The People’s Party has registered the request for the appearance of the director of Cultural Affairs, Manuela Villa, in the Culture Commission of the Congress of Deputies to report on the coordination between the Ministry of Culture and her department regarding the new museographic programs and discourses of the National Museum of Anthropology and Museum of America.
The document, to which Europa Press has had access, will ask Manuela Villa for explanations about the renewal of the permanent exhibitions of the two State Museums and about the tender amount for these projects for a total of 13.9 million euros.
Manuela Villa’s department is outside the Ministry of Culture that she directs Ernest Urtasun. Among the functions of this body is assistance to the head of the Cabinet Directorate of the Presidency of the Government in matters of culture.
In addition to his appearance, the PP has also requested the assistance of the director of the Museum of America, Andrés Gutiérrez, and his counterpart of the Museum of Anthropology, Fernando Sáez, to explain the museographic discourse that will be carried out for the renewal of the permanent exhibition of both museums, with the aim of “to correct biases and omissions, to present museography on a level of equality, horizontally, to involve communities, and to initiate a process of reparation of narratives and social justice.”
Likewise, the fourth registered request demands the appearance of the deputy director general of State Museums, Mercedes Roldán, so that, where appropriate, she also explains the tender amount worth 13.9 million euros.
“DECOLONIZATION”
The Ministry of Culture started last Wednesday, November 19, the “decolonization” of the National Museums of Anthropology and the Museum of America with the presentation of the new museographic programs which, among other novelties, include more contemporary art, new signs identifying the works on display and an increase in audiovisual tools.
To implement these new programs, bidding for the projects must begin. In the case of the Museum of Anthropology, it is expected to begin this month of December 2025 for an estimated amount of 4.4 million euros and will not end before 2028. In the case of the Museum of America, its bidding will begin in March 2026 with 9.2 million euros and it is not expected to conclude until the summer of 2028.
Culture sources have indicated to Europa Press that the The intention is to minimize the closures of both museums. In the case of the Museum of America, since it is larger, the update can be done in phases and its closure will not be necessary. On the contrary, in the case of the Museum of Anthropology, which is smaller, it is likely that it will be necessary to close it for a time but an attempt will be made to “minimize it.”
Ernest Urtasun explained that this “updating” of the museums occurs after a process of “research, work and experimentation” to adapt the proposals to the “needs” of contemporary society.
“The new museographic approaches will allow us to open our eyes and contemplate reality from multiple points of view.”. This means explaining cultures as something living, dynamic, contemporary, that dialogues with us today. It means recognizing the agenda of the towns and communities, and not just showing their objects,” the minister said.
Among other novelties of these two new projects is the inclusion of contemporary art in discourses as a “critical tool” and “questioning” of social problems. In addition, Culture will include audiovisual devices, direct testimonies, rotating showcases, artistic installations, interactive spaces, recreational spaces or online materials.