The Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona, MACBA, designed by the American architect Richard Meier, opened its doors to the public on November 28, 1995.
However, the foundations of the MACBA collection date back to 1987, when the entrepreneur Leopoldo Rodés provided the first private funds for the project. Then in 1988, the MACBA Consortium was formed, bringing together the Government of Catalonia (Generalitat de Catalunya), the city of Barcelona, and the private foundation. In 1997, the MACBA Consortium received the contemporary art collections of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the l’Ajuntament de Barcelona. In 2007, the MACBA Consortium was joined by the Ministry of Culture, and in 2008 the Council Board reorganized MACBA’s structure. The three public administrations in the Consortium received the necessary funds to operate as a museum while the foundation became responsible for raising the capital necessary to develop its permanent collection.
Today the permanent collection of the MACBA boasts more than 5,000 works of art, including 759 photographs, 356 from MACBA foundation acquisitions, and 402 from public collections and donations.
The MACBA is now overseen by Bartomeu Marí Ribas. Antónia María Perelló is the curator of the permanent collection.
Lola Fabry
Read the full article on the French version of Le Journal.
