Artium Centre

The Artium Centre is the Centro-Museo Vasco de Arte Contemporáneo in Vitoria-Gasteiz, and it is the same institution that appears elsewhere in this guide as the Basque Museum of Contemporary Art, so the two listings refer to one place. It stands at Calle Francia 24 (24 Francia Street), on the edge of the old town, and it is the main public venue for contemporary art in the Basque Country. It opened in 2002 and was designed to be both a museum and a cultural hub, with exhibition halls, a library and documentation centre, a shop and a restaurant, as well as spaces for talks, performances and workshops.

The working idea of the centre goes beyond showing a collection. It regards contemporary art as a way of talking about society, and the programme often addresses political, social and cultural questions, from identity and memory to technology and the environment. Exhibitions bring together local and international artists, and some projects are made specially for the building. Because the programme changes several times a year, there is usually something new on show, and the permanent collection of Basque and Spanish art from the second half of the twentieth century is rearranged from time to time. Visitors can expect work in many media, including painting, sculpture, photography, video and installation.

The building has been described as a place designed to invite visitors to look, think and discuss, and its interior is arranged with bright, flexible galleries and circulation spaces that allow different routes through the displays. The museum’s approach to access is practical. It has step-free entry, and prams and wheelchairs can be borrowed at the cloakroom, and free WiFi is available. It also runs educational activities for children, young people and adults, and guided visits can be arranged.

Opening arrangements are straightforward: the museum is open most days, with a long midday break on weekdays and continuous hours at weekends, and it is closed on Mondays except on public holidays. Admission is modest, and there are free periods, such as certain afternoons and Sundays, and reductions for groups such as young people, students and pensioners. These arrangements change, so confirm them on the official site. The ticket office closes before the galleries do, so avoid arriving at the last minute.

The centre fits easily into a day in Vitoria-Gasteiz. The Plaza de la Virgen Blanca and the medieval quarter are a short walk away, and the Santa Maria Cathedral and the archaeology museum are nearby. The green belt around the city offers a contrast of nature and walking. A visit of about two hours gives time for the exhibitions and a coffee.