Macba is moving its collection out of the museum and into everyday spaces. Artworks are now on display in hairdressers, bakeries, and even bus lines across Catalonia. The project aims to make contemporary art more accessible.
Contemporary art from the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Barcelona (Macba) is leaving its iconic building in the Raval district and appearing in unexpected places across Catalonia. In a move to mark its 30th anniversary, Macba has launched 'Un museu fora del museu', a project that brings works from its collection to hair salons, bakeries, markets, and even pharmacies in twenty municipalities. The initiative, supported by the Department of Culture of the Generalitat, aims to reach residents who rarely visit the museum in central Barcelona.
Over thirty photographs and videos by artists such as Fina Miralles, Francesc Abad, Xavier Ribas, Dora García, Martí Anson, Miralda, Joaquim Jordà, Joan Brossa, Colita, Bruce Nauman, Ana Müller, Gary Hill, and Jana Sterbak are being exhibited in everyday venues. For example, the Hermes hair salon in Valls now displays a series of Francesc Abad's self-portraits from 1972, chosen for their focus on the head—a fitting theme for a hairdresser. In Sant Cugat del Vallès, the Sàbat bakery features work by Àngels Ribé, an artist who is a regular customer there.
Other locations include the Tien 21 electronics store in Girona, where televisions show Bruce Nauman's video piece 'Art Make-Up', and the urban bus line in Martorell, where images from Ferran Garcia Sevilla's 'Déus' series are displayed on the rear windows of buses. In Vilanova i la Geltrú, market vendors are handing out postcards with excerpts from Miralda's book 'Santa Comida = Holy Food'. Terrassa's Abacus store is exhibiting typewritten poems by Joan Brossa, created between 1948 and 1955.
The project also extends to less conventional spaces. In Lleida, a work by Josep Ponsatí is on view at the funeral home, while the city cemetery hosts two pieces by Fina Miralles exploring the relationship between bodies and nature. Pharmacies in Cardedeu are screening Iván Argote's 'Caricia', and administrative buildings like the Vic town hall are displaying Martí Anson's photographic series. In Vilafranca del Penedès, the Espai Jove La Nau youth center is showing two works by Fina Miralles and hosting a photography workshop with Marc Cuscó.
Macba's head of collections, Clàudia Segura, emphasized the goal of making the museum's holdings more public by placing them in unexpected locations. The project is curated by Martí Manen, who worked with local cultural centers to select both the venues and the most suitable artworks. All exhibition points are clearly marked and include information about the works and artists. The involvement of local business owners, such as Carles Carrión of the Hermes salon, is seen as key to the project's success, as their enthusiasm helps engage visitors who might not otherwise encounter contemporary art.
Macba is one of Spain's leading contemporary art museums, with a collection that includes over 5,800 works. The museum's decision to decentralize its exhibitions reflects a broader trend among cultural institutions to reach wider audiences and break down barriers to access. By integrating art into daily life, the initiative not only democratizes culture but also encourages new conversations about the role of art in society. The project runs until November 30, offering residents across Catalonia a rare opportunity to encounter major works outside traditional museum walls.
