Bombas Gens Centre d'Art Opens in Valencia with Social Mission

Bombas Gens Centre d'Art, a new contemporary art center in Valencia, opens on July 8, 2017, in a converted 1930s factory with Art Deco facade. The center houses the Fundació Per Amor a l'Art's collection of over 1,500 works by 150 international artists, focusing on photography and abstract painting and sculpture. The collection was built over seven years with advice from Vicente Todolí. Curator Nuria Enguita Mayo (Madrid, 1967) has planned thematic exhibitions to showcase the collection. The building, acquired by entrepreneur José Luís Soler, was renovated by architect Eduardo de Miguel Arbonés, preserving original structure while adding climate control and security. Unique to the center, it doubles as a daytime shelter for at-risk youth, using contemporary art as a tool for social inclusion. The 6,200-square-meter space aims to become a community hub and one of the region's most interesting contemporary art venues.