Research and Documentation Centre

The MACBA Research and Documentation Centre (CED) opened its doors in December 2007 to expand the MACBA’s sphere of activities as a centre for the preservation of the document collections and for research, debate and dissemination. The Research and Documentation Centre Archive and Library are specialized in contemporary art practices, and they are focused on the same time period as the exhibitions and activities programmed by the museum and the selection of works in the MACBA Collection, with which they maintain a close relationship of continuity. This maximizes their potential to generate new interpretations and readings throughout the history of contemporary art. The documentary materials that make up the Archive and Library are structured into holdings and collections which include the archives of individuals and organizations, artists’ books, posters, photographs, invitations, pamphlets and more, as well as reference books and audiovisual documents. The accessibility and conservation requirements of these materials determine whether they are stored in the Library or the Archive. Both have the mission to preserve them, disseminate their content and support research on contemporary artistic practices that draws on these documents as its raw material.

Educational institutions and professional groups can request a group visit to the Research and Documentation Centre at centredestudis@macba.cat.

The Research and Documentation Centre welcomes donations of books and other materials in its domain of specialization to the Archive and Library as long as they are not duplicated in the document collections. If you would like to make a donation or obtain more information, please write to centredestudis@macba.cat specifying the purpose of your donation.