Bringing contemporary art to all audiences
The President of the MACBA Foundation, Ainhoa Grandes, and the President of Repsol and Fundación Repsol, Antonio Brufau, have renewed the contract that allows the exhibition of 41 pieces in the museum and strengthens the relationship between the two entities in the promotion of inclusive culture.
The alliance between Fundación Repsol and MACBA began in 1998 with the permanent donation to the museum of Rinzen, one of the most significant pieces by Antoni Tàpies. Designed for the Spanish Pavilion of the 45th Venice Biennial in 1993, and awarded with the Leone d'Oro for Painting at the event, the work was installed in the MACBA by the artist himself, who adapted it to the spatial conditions of the museum. The sculpture unifies the three floors of the building and is the first thing visitors see as they enter.
In 2001, Fundación Repsol reinforced its commitment to the MACBA through an agreement for the contribution of new works of art for the permanent collection. Since then, a total of 41 works by 20 national and international artists of great relevance in the history of contemporary art have been added to the museum, such as Ignasi Aballí, Carlos Bunga, Constant, Rodney Graham, Richard Hamilton, Marine Hugonnier, Antoni Miralda, Antoni Muntadas, Tere Recarens, Xabier Salaberria, or Allan Sekula, among others. This collaboration has contributed to the creation of a unique cultural and artistic heritage.
Since 2015, Fundación Repsol has expanded its commitment by supporting the MACBA Accessibility Programme, which aims to bring contemporary art closer to all audiences. Different actions have been taken to adapt the museum to the needs of people with physical, auditory, or visual disabilities, as well as people with learning or developmental disabilities. In this collaborative framework, the Accessibility Programme, which is based on the belief that art facilitates and promotes social integration, has been deployed throughout the museum, from the permanent collection to temporary exhibitions and sections of public programmes. In 2018 this Accessibility Programme was reinforced with MACBA's new mobile application, the permanent presence of an accessibility specialist on the museum team, and specific training for staff and educators.