Nicolás Gómez Echeverri on Museum Challenges: Algorithms, Budgets, and Representation

In an interview for Artishock Revista ahead of International Museum Day, Nicolás Gómez Echeverri, director of the Unidad de Artes y Otras Colecciones at the Banco de la República de Colombia, discusses the challenges facing museums in Iberoamerica. He oversees the Museo de Arte Miguel Urrutia (MAMU), Museo Botero, and Casa de Moneda. Gómez Echeverri argues that museums must act as a 'radar' to capture decentralized artistic practices across Colombia, integrating them into collections and programming. He rejects the notion that accessibility conflicts with depth, stating both are obligations. Budget constraints over the past 15 years—including a significant rise in the dollar and increased costs for transport, insurance, and materials—have forced a shift from large international exhibitions to deeper research of the permanent collection, which has positively impacted visitor numbers. He emphasizes the need for long-term sustainability and autonomy, citing the Banco de la República's ability to sustain cultural projects nationally. A key threat he identifies is the algorithm-driven imposition of trends, which can erode historical knowledge. He calls for museums to conserve not only objects but also foundational ideas from the past, allowing them to inform present and future dialogues. The interview is part of a series exploring institutional models and the public role of contemporary museums.