Centro Galego de Arte Contemporánea
Contemporary art centre in Santiago de Compostela, in a building by Álvaro Siza beside the Bonaval park, with free admission.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Centro Galego de Arte Contemporánea was created under the Statute of Autonomy of Galicia and opened in 1993, with a stable programme from 1995. It depends on the Consellería de Cultura of the Xunta de Galicia and was conceived to stimulate the artistic scene and bring Galicia closer to the international circuit of current art.
Its building is the work of the Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, who designed it between 1988 and 1993 beside the convent of San Domingos de Bonaval, on the edge of the historic centre. A blind granite façade gives way to an interior of galleries on three levels, with ramps and zigzag routes that recall the terraces of the former convent garden. The building also has an auditorium, a library, a café and a terrace.
The permanent collection, begun in 1995, exceeds 1,300 pieces and has been formed through purchases, donations and deposits. It consists mainly of works by established artists from the second half of the 20th century onwards, with special attention to Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American creation, as well as Galician and international artists. Alongside the exhibitions, the centre organises lectures, workshops, music, performing arts and film.
Highlights
- Building by Álvaro Siza Vieira, opened in 1993
- Collection of more than 1,300 works of contemporary art
- Free admission to the exhibitions
- Terrace open on Sundays and garden in the Bonaval park
- Guided tours and educational activities programme
- Founded
- 1993
- Operated by
- Xunta de Galicia (Consellería de Cultura)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free admission to the exhibitions.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- 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
Ramps and lifts connect almost all the public areas. The main entrance, under a covered atrium on the south side, is reached by a ramp or by two flights of stairs. There is an adapted toilet on the first floor, next to the library. A Spanish Sign Language video guide and a pictogram guide are offered. Only accredited guide dogs or therapy dogs are admitted.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The building is on Rúa de Valle-Inclán, beside the convent of San Domingos de Bonaval and its park, on the edge of the historic centre.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Lockers
- Wi-Fi
Free WLAN throughout the building. Café on the ground floor with an outdoor terrace and its own access on the east side, next to the Bonaval park (Wednesday to Friday 11:00–14:00 and 17:00–20:00, Saturdays and Sundays 11:00–20:00). Individual lockers in the auditorium foyer. The bookshop run by the Friends' association is listed as closed until further notice.
Events & venue rental
The auditorium, on the ground floor, has a capacity of 250 people and hosts lectures, courses, concerts and film screenings.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography with a phone or handheld camera is permitted unless otherwise indicated; flash, selfie sticks and tripods are not admitted. Recording video requires prior authorisation from the management or the press department. |
| Good to know | Free guided tours of the temporary exhibitions, with or without booking, led by art mediators: on Sundays at 12:00 and from Tuesday to Friday 11:00–13:00. On the first Saturday of each month, at 12:00, there is a visit to the architecture of the building. Under-14s must be accompanied. Backpacks and bags larger than 30 × 30 cm, umbrellas and tripods are not admitted to the galleries, and nor is food or drink. |
