Manuel Segade on Museums: Preserving Complexity in a Precarious World

In an interview for International Museum Day, Manuel Segade, director of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, argues that museums must preserve the world's complexity and speak on multiple levels. He emphasizes that museums have historically been spaces for critique, conflict, and negotiation with tradition. Segade discusses the tension between accessibility and depth, stating that a national public museum like the Reina Sofía must address diverse audiences through varied programs and exhibition languages. On economic constraints, he notes that while precarity is common in contemporary art systems, Spain still treats culture as a public good and access as a fundamental right. He advocates for solid structures that withstand resource limitations. Internally, the Reina Sofía has been developing a new labor culture over three years, transforming its hierarchical model into five interdependent directorates that work horizontally. This restructuring, supported by three ministries (Hacienda, Función Pública, and Cultura), aims to create an ecosystem where the 'what' and 'how' of art are inseparable. The interview is part of a series with directors of Latin American cultural institutions.