Tenerife Espacio de las Artes

About the museum

Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA) is the island’s main centre for contemporary art. The project was approved in 1995, and the complex opened in October 2008 in the historic quarter of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, between the Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África and the church of La Concepción, beside the ravine. It is run by the Cabildo de Tenerife.

The building was designed by the Swiss studio Herzog & de Meuron, with the Canarian architect Virgilio Gutiérrez Herreros leading the project. Its diagonal volumes, sloping floors and a ramp open the interior up to the city: a public route crosses the complex diagonally and leads to the central courtyard. As well as the exhibition rooms, the centre houses the children’s space MiniTEA, cinema in original version, an auditorium, a café-restaurant, a shop and an art library.

The collection, of a little over two thousand works, grew around the holdings of Óscar Domínguez, the painter from Tenerife linked to Surrealism, of which about fifty pieces are kept. To these are added contemporary Canarian art, international artists from the avant-gardes of the 20th and 21st centuries, and deposits such as the Los Bragales and COFF collections.

The Centro de Fotografía Isla de Tenerife, linked to TEA almost since its foundation, looks after the photographic heritage of the Canary Islands, with negatives from the 19th and 20th centuries, and organises the Fotonoviembre biennial, which has existed since 1991. Since 2024 the centre has been directed by Sergio Rubira.

Highlights

• Herzog & de Meuron building with a public route running diagonally
• Óscar Domínguez holdings, around fifty works
• Collection of contemporary Canarian and international art
• Centro de Fotografía Isla de Tenerife and the Fotonoviembre biennial
• MiniTEA children’s space and cinema in original version

Permanent exhibitions

• Colección TEA – More than two thousand works, with the Óscar Domínguez holdings at the core, contemporary Canarian and international art, and photography collections.
• Espacio MiniTEA – Free creative space for children, with art and play activities.

Founded

2008

Operated by

Cabildo de Tenerife

Director

Sergio Rubira

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the exhibition rooms is free, as are the guided tours.

Accessibility

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

The centre states that it has accessible entrances, accessible toilets and guided visits for deaf people.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

MiniTEA is a free creative space for children. The educational programme includes activities such as Minitardes, Enfamiliarte and El arte de aprender.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check: not available
• Wi-Fi

Café-restaurant in the building and a shop with original pieces. Free Wi-Fi. There is no cloakroom; backpacks and bags larger than 25 × 25 cm are not admitted into the rooms.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit