The Public Foundation Institut d'Estudis Ilerdencs is a cultural institution that has its headquarters in the old Hospital of Santa Maria. The building is one of the fifteenth century building that is within the Gothic catalan and is practically the only example of Gothic architecture of that era that exists in the western Catalonia.

Currently, the Institut d'Estudis Ilerdencs is a center for studies modern and dynamic with an undeniable cultural both municipal and district. A place of culture become a culture in the world, especially within the framework of territorial Catalan. The purpose of the Foundation goes beyond the strict framework of the city of Lerida because as a cultural institution of the Lleida throughout the province that it is itself the object of the attention.

These are the basic objectives of the organization promoting the study and research on topics related to the regions of its territory, the promotion of science, literature and the arts, cultural dissemination, as well as the standardization of the use of the language.

The Institute is organized into a dual structure of Departments and Services. The departments are the scientific units through which to channel the proposals of the activities, the technical units are represented by the Services, that is, the technical and administrative infrastructure that handles more daily activity of the Institute.

The Institute is open to a much wider area through the creation of awards and research, conscious, above all, that the current society of communication and information has no limits for the knowledge or for cultures.

In short, move the culture with the dynamics of the time to offer consumers high quality in all cultural production, is the commitment to the future of the Institute.