Manuel Segade defends CGAC autonomy amid controversy over museum's new director

Manuel Segade, director of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, has publicly called on the Xunta de Galicia to review the process that led to the appointment of Eva López Tarrío as the new director of the Centro Galego de Arte Contemporánea (CGAC) in Santiago de Compostela. In an article titled 'CGAC. En defensa de lo normal' published in La Voz de Galicia, Segade argues for maintaining professional criteria and independence in contemporary art institutions. The controversy began after the selection model for the CGAC directorship was changed to a free-designation process reserved for civil servants, replacing the previous open competition based on professional track record, curatorial projects, and cultural management experience. This shift has drawn criticism from artists, curators, researchers, and cultural agents, with the campaign 'Se afunde é porque pesa: SOS CGAC' gathering over 1,500 signatures. Segade's intervention coincides with labor protests and an indefinite strike at the Reina Sofía Museum itself, highlighting tensions over governance, working conditions, and power structures in public cultural institutions. Since its opening in 1993, the CGAC has been a key player in Spain's contemporary art scene, known for its exhibition program, international connections, and research role. The debate underscores broader questions about how to ensure public museums develop independent, solid projects while reviewing their organizational models.