The Alicante City Council’s Board of Directors approved, this Tuesday, the classification of joint ventures participating in public tenders, including the contract for the expansion of the Museum of Contemporary Art Alicante (MACA). A Madrid-based architectural firm, Sancho-Madridejos, presented the most favorable bid, valued at 359,128 euros with an execution window of eight months. This decision marks a crucial milestone in the competitive process, as the council requests the submission of supporting documentation as a preparatory step toward a final award, following the Contracting Committee’s recommendation dated 3 August.
The project envisions expanding MACA to roughly 8,200 square meters, with about 3,600 square meters dedicated to exhibition space. At present, MACA offers approximately 4,600 square meters for displays. The planned renovation would raise the available exhibition area by about 75 percent, creating new possibilities for contemporary displays across plastic art, painting, photography, and large-scale sculpture. The expanded venue would position MACA as a flagship for regional modern art, attracting more visitors, curators, and international collaborations, and enhancing the city’s cultural tourism appeal across Canada, the United States, and beyond.
Alongside the MACA expansion, the Board approved the classification of suppliers for the mentoring, cataloging, and inventory management service described through the GV Museis museographic management system. The work covers archaeological materials preserved in the Municipal Archaeological Depot of the Alicante City Museum (MUSA) for a three-year period. Barley Patrimonio SL was the sole bidder and has been earmarked as the preferred contractor for the forthcoming award with a bid of 173,565.55 euros. This step underscores a broader commitment to meticulous cataloging and responsible stewardship of cultural assets, ensuring consistent accessibility for researchers, educators, and the traveling public.
The scope includes the systematic inventory of materials drawn from approximately 7,000 boxes across more than 60 archaeological interventions. These items reside in the safeguarded municipal zone of Las Cigarreras. MUSA itself is situated near Santa Bárbara Castle and comprises five exhibition halls, including the Renaissance Cistern, a reminder of the city’s layered history and its ongoing dedication to preserving and presenting artefacts in meaningful, engaging ways. The initiative aligns with contemporary practice in museums worldwide, where robust documentation, transparent provenance, and thoughtful display strategies help visitors connect with the past while understanding its relevance to present and future generations. It also reinforces the city’s role as a cultural hub in the region, benefiting both residents and international audiences seeking high-quality, accessible exhibitions and learning experiences.