The Central Archive conserves the documentation produced by the Museo from its beginnings in 1986 as the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía to the present day. Furthermore, it incorporates part of the documentation produced by preceding institutions: the Museo Nacional de Arte Moderno, the Museo Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo and the Museo Español de Arte Contemporáneo. Today, its volume totals 8,000 archive items (standardised archive boxes).
Primarily, it is made up of administrative documentation from the day-to-day management of the Museo, and technical documentation generated by specific activities: restoration reports, conservation reports, temporary exhibition files, Board of Trustees’ minutes, files for works withdrawn for temporary exhibitions, etc.
Salient in the Central Archive’s categorisation chart are the following holdings reflecting its institutional history:
- Museo Español de Arte Contemporáneo (part of its holdings)
- Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
- Royal Patronage, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
- Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
- Other holdings: Plastic Arts Management, Plastic Arts Promotion, Trade Union Confederation of Plastic Arts, etc.
Currently, work is under way on a functional categorisation chart, in accordance with the guidelines of the Advanced Evaluation Committee of Administration Documents.
The Central Archive does not preserve the archives and holdings of artists, gallerists, art critics, etc. that are part of the collection of archives and documentary holdings belonging to the Library catalogue and available in the Reading Room.
Explore the Central Archive
Users can consult documents from the Central Archive with a prior appointment made via email at archivo@museoreinasofia.es, attaching the request form and indicating the documentation of interest. Requests must be made a number of days in advance. The Archive staff will then notify the user of the results obtained via the email address provided and will arrange a date and time for the in-person consultation of the selected documents.
Consultation times are from 9am to 2pm, Monday to Friday, at the tables reserved for consulting special collections on Floor -1 of the Library’s Reading Room.
The Library Card must be used to access facilities on the pre-arranged day and time. The Library Card can be requested previously by filling out the following online form.
If you require more information on the Central Archive, please check the terms of access and use, the service to consult items from the Central Archive, and the document reproduction service.
Request form to consult documentation
Form
Contact
archivo@museoreinasofia.es
Other documents of interest
Reference tools from the Central Archive
