Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno

About the museum

The Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno (CAAM) opened its doors on 4 December 1989 and is part of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria. It was founded to stimulate the visual arts and critical thinking in an Atlantic framework and intercultural dialogue. Its inaugural exhibition and the international seminar “Surrealismo entre Viejo y Nuevo Mundo” examined how Surrealism developed in peripheral regions such as the Caribbean, Latin America, the Canary Islands and Europe.

The main venue is on calle Los Balcones, in Vegueta, and was designed by the architect Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza. It retains the façades of two earlier houses: number 11, neoclassical, and number 9, with geometric motifs in ashlar stone. The interior has four floors and a central courtyard, and has been turned into a flexible space for exhibitions. A few metres away is the second venue, the espacio San Antonio Abad.

Over its history the centre adopted the concept of “tricontinentalidad”, which links Africa, America and Europe, presented more than a hundred exhibitions, reviewed the work of the 20th-century Canarian masters and organised courses and seminars. The “Revista Atlántica de las Artes” was a key platform for critical reflection. Today it defines itself as an open museum that combines the functions of a museum and an art centre, with attention to education, new media and participatory programming.

The collection starts from the holdings of the Cabildo, focused on the school of Luján Pérez (c. 1930–1950), and was expanded with the El Paso group and Informalism, with the APM collection (some 2,000 pieces between 2000 and 2004) and with the collection “Memoria del Papel” from the Galería Leyendecker (2002). It brings together some 3,000 works focused on the Canary Islands, Europe, Africa and America.

Highlights

• Building by Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza with a central courtyard
• Works by Manolo Millares, Martín Chirino and Antonio Saura
• African and Latin American art of the 1990s
• APM and “Memoria del Papel” collections
• Library and documentation centre
• Free admission

Permanent exhibition

• La Colección del CAAM – Some 3,000 works of art from the Canary Islands, Europe, Africa and America, including pieces from the El Paso group, Informalism, African and Latin American art and the APM collection.

Founded

1989

Operated by

Cabildo de Gran Canaria

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the centre is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The centre works towards universal accessibility. Before a visit, information can be requested on +34 928 311 800 or at info@caam.net. Guide dogs are admitted and, with a medical certificate, emotional support animals.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The main building is on calle Los Balcones, in Vegueta, between the plaza del Pilar Nuevo (behind the cathedral) and calle San Agustín. Nearby are the Catedral de Santa Ana, the Casa de Colón and El Museo Canario.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Own shop and bookshop; library and documentation centre.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit