Reina Sofia Museum Madrid

The Museo Reina Sofia, an autonomous organization dependent on the Spanish Ministry of Culture, was created by Royal Decree 535/88 of May 1988. With headquarters in San Carlos Hospital, its Collection was made up of that conserved at the time by the Spanish Museum of Contemporary Art. On 10 September 1992, their Majesties King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia inaugurated the Permanent Collection of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, which until then had only held temporary exhibitions. Now a bona fide museum, its goals – as set forth in the abovementioned decree – were to conserve, expand and exhibit its collections; to promote the general public’s knowledge of and access to contemporary art in its various manifestations; to hold exhibitions at the international level, and to offer training, educational and assesment activities related with its holdings.

Throughout all of these years, the Museo Reina Sofia has been increasing its collections, temporary exhibits, audiovisual and educational activities, services and number of visitors, what led those in charge of the institution to undertake studies on the possibility of increasing surface space, which brought about in 2001 with the construction of the new building by Jean Nouvel, opened in September of 2005. In this way the Museum responded not only to its proposed needs, but also to a clear call to transform the neighborhood’s surrounding environment. By creating a public square – as set forth in the building code of the new buildings and the southwest facade of the current Museum – a space in the city and for the city was created.

The Museum has increased more than 60% of the old building’s surface area (51,297 square meters), now reaching 84,048 square meters. Thus, the Museo Reina Sofia now disposes of a privileged exhibition space.

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Website:Reina Sofia Museum