Building Castles, Building Community: Catalunya and Castellers

ABSTRACT Human tower‐building ( castells ) is a historically integral part of Catalan culture that has come to be practised by refugee and migrant arrivals as well as Catalan‐born residents. Though much has been written about historical and cultural meanings of the practice and its potential for serving as a mechanism of social integration of migrants, little existing literature explores what being a Casteller means to those who participate or how they understand the role of their group within the community. The objective of this ethnographic study was to illuminate the meanings of participating in a Casteller group for both Catalan and migrant/refugee participants. The study was primarily conducted with a specific Casteller group in a diverse working‐class urban neighbourhood in Barcelona with a notable refugee and migrant population. Using key informant and opportunistic sampling, ethnographic fieldwork at group practices, events and during day‐to‐day social gatherings and interactions combined with participant‐observation and informal interviewing yielded data from approximately 75 participants. Thematic analysis resulted in interrelated themes of inclusion/inclusivity/welcome ; community/family/neighbourhood; trust, mutual support and internationalism ; and safety and injury prevention . Catalan and migrant/refugee participants alike reported that being part of their urban Casteller group produced a feeling of community and social health that encompassed the intentional inclusion of migrants and refugees as a form of solidarity. The sense of community health and solidarity extended to the surrounding, diverse neighbourhood. Contrary to other literature that posits castells as likely inaccessible to certain social groups, this Casteller group's ethos and practices of welcome, inclusion and solidarity constituted forms of radical care work within the group and beyond it.