Valentín Roma Unveils MACBA Roadmap: More Shows, New Collection Plan, and a Three-Year Cycle
Valentín Roma, who commenced his role at the MACBA Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona in early July, unveiled his vision for the museum's future. His strategy aims to establish a distinctive museum identity while enhancing MACBA’s impact and steering clear of ideological labels. The initiative plans to increase the number of exhibitions and incorporate innovative practices, leveraging thirty years of institutional history. This new endeavor will unfold over three years, with the initial phase running from early 2027 to September 2028, concentrating on content themes and a revamped Collection display. The subsequent phase, following an expansion, will conclude in December 2029, prioritizing public engagement and diverse audiences. Additionally, a heritage plan will integrate the Collection, archive, and CED for expanded research and exhibition opportunities.
Key facts
- Valentín Roma joined MACBA in early July and presented his roadmap on 5 October 2026.
- The plan seeks to distance MACBA from generic museographic models and curatorial slang.
- Exhibition frequency will increase, and the museum will engage with non-exhibition practices.
- The project is structured around about ten thematic lines and builds on MACBA’s three decades of history.
- The first phase runs from early 2027 to September 2028, when content axes and a new Collection presentation will be announced.
- A second phase begins after September 2028, following the expansion’s opening, and ends in December 2029.
- Key focus on ‘uses’—public, cultural, critical—to diversify audiences and avoid paternalism.
- A heritage plan will integrate the Collection, archive, and CED to research and display holdings beyond inventory.
Entities
Artists
- Valentín Roma
- Coco Fusco
- José Luis Martínez Meseguer
Institutions
- MACBA Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona
- Plataforma de Arte Contemporáneo
- CED
Locations
- Barcelona
- Spain
- New York
- United States
- Algeria