Curator Reflects on Museums as Essential Civic Spaces in Contemporary Society

Eugenio Viola, former artistic director of the Bogotá Museum of Modern Art (MAMBO), argues that museums serve as vital civic infrastructures rather than neutral cultural institutions. Writing in ArtReview's March 2026 issue, Viola contends that museums should embrace their role in fostering dialogue about contested histories and social inequalities, particularly in contexts like Colombia with its history of armed conflict. He emphasizes that museums must host discomfort and multiple narratives rather than provide authoritative answers. While digital technologies expand access, Viola maintains that physical museums remain crucial for embodied collective experiences where meaning is negotiated. His perspective stems from seven years leading MAMBO, a position he recently left.