Museo de Arte Moderno de Medellín
We are pleased to present the nomination of the Museo de Arte Moderno de Medellín, MAMM, for this edition of the CIMAM Museum Practice Award. Under the concept ‘Time to listen’, we highlight a post-pandemic strategic shift that has integrated our programmatic commitment to addressing climate, social, urban development and other contemporary issues of great relevance in the current context.
This practice is applied across all core areas of the Museum, from conservation and education to exhibition programmes, research, communications, sustainability and governance. Through exhibitions, educational programmes and public activities, MAMM has strengthened its role as a space for critical reflection and dialogue, creating meaningful connections with diverse communities in Medellín, Colombia and the world.
In this exhibition and mediation programme we highlight projects such as Past Future Time, which explored contemporary artistic production in Colombia; Medellín. Pulse of the City, which addressed urban evolution and social inequality, demonstrating the ways in which artists and collectives respond to current challenges; Time to Listen to Us. Manifestations of indigenous art in Colombia which explored the importance of active listening and intercultural dialogue in the construction of an inclusive society, addressing issues of communication, identity and memory; Desafiar. Crossing the Sun from a Great Pacific that presented works by artists who question established norms, addressing issues of gender, race and social justice; as well as Acoustic Fossil, focusing on water issues through sound research in the Medellín River, and recently The Muse exhibition highlights works by Latin American artists, and for the first time, MAMM's collection will be available online in 2024, promoting histories of Latin American art. Since 2021, MAMM has reinforced its role as a space for reflection and dialogue, strengthening Medellín's cultural identity and ensuring its long-term relevance.
Explain in one sentence why you think the project you nominate is outstanding and could serve as an example for the entire community of modern and contemporary art museums.
The Museum is constantly reinventing itself as a space for listening, dialogue and action, creating a lasting impact on its community from the global south.
Explain why this practice or program is relevant and sustainable in creating meaningful and lasting connections with people, communities, and the museum context with a medium to long-term vision.
This approach is sustainable and relevant, connecting deeply with the community and context of Medellín, a city that in the 1990s was the most violent city in the world due to armed conflict and drug trafficking. By addressing issues such as climate change, social inequality, cultural identity and historical memory, MAMM consolidates itself as a space for reflection and critical dialogue. This practice encourages inclusion and active participation through educational programmes, cultural mediations and public activities, inviting audiences to interact and contribute. The focus on education and mediation ensures that the MAMM remains relevant in the medium and long term, adapting to changing social and cultural dynamics. In this way, the Museum strengthens its role as a key player in building a more equitable and connected society, consolidating itself as an agent of change and a catalyst for new ideas.