Barcelona cultural sector denounces systemic failures in public institution director selection processes
Ahead of the announcement for the new director at the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA), a group comprising ACCA, PAAC, APGCC, and the museum's works council raised concerns regarding the competition's transparency and independence. They sought a meeting on March 9, but their issues remained unresolved. Their grievances included the absence of international experts on the jury, questions about independence, the power to make decisions, language prerequisites, and public assessment standards. Similar disputes arose with ICUB, such as ACCA and PAAC's objections to the Centre d'Art Contemporani Fabra i Coats in November 2024 and challenges to the Museu del Disseny in December 2025, revealing discrepancies between self-regulatory codes and the practices of public institutions.
Key facts
- ACCA, PAAC, APGCC, and MACBA works council issued a statement questioning the MACBA director competition on the eve of the announcement.
- The groups requested a meeting on March 9 but received no response and no corrections were made.
- Criticisms included lack of international specialists, non-independent jury, advisory-only jury, no language requirements, and no quantifiable criteria.
- In November 2024, ACCA and PAAC opposed the Fabra i Coats director competition over a two-year contract and lack of guarantees.
- In December 2025, PAAC and the Museology association counted 15 breaches in the Museu del Disseny competition, 10 serious.
- ICUB argued the calls were legally compliant; associations say the issue is legitimacy and professional standards.
- In 2025, PAAC denounced opacity in Can Felipa's visual arts program coordination and degradation of working conditions.
- The CGAC in Galicia faced irregularities in selecting Eva López Tarrío as director, criticized as an attack on autonomy.
- Centre d'Art La Panera in Lleida saw protests in 2025 over precarious contracts for artistic direction roles.
- Upcoming competitions for La Capella and La Virreina will test the application of good practice codes.
Entities
Artists
- Eva López Tarrío
Institutions
- Associació Catalana de Crítica d'Art (ACCA)
- Plataforma Assembleària d'Artistes de Catalunya (PAAC)
- Associació de Professionals de la Gestió Cultural de Catalunya (APGCC)
- Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA)
- Institut de Cultura de Barcelona (ICUB)
- Centre d'Art Contemporani Fabra i Coats
- Museu del Disseny
- Can Felipa
- Centro Galego de Arte Contemporánea (CGAC)
- Centre d'Art La Panera
- Centre d'Art La Capella
- La Virreina Centre de la Imatge
- Districte de Sant Martí
- Asociación Cultural La Vegliota
- Associació de Professionals de la Museologia de Catalunya
- Ayuntamiento de Barcelona
- exibart.es
Locations
- Barcelona
- Spain
- Catalonia
- Lleida
- Galicia