Manuel Segade is set to take the helm at the Reina Sofia Museum, succeeding Manuel Borja-Villel after nearly a decade with CA2M, the Community of Madrid’s contemporary art institution. The move, confirmed by the Ministry of Culture and Sports, marks a significant shift in Spain’s national art leadership and follows a careful selection process among a slate of qualified candidates.
On Tuesday, Minister Miquel Iceta formally proposed Segade to the Cabinet as Borja-Villel’s successor. The recommendation, announced earlier in the year, includes Segade’s plan to continue as museum president after a long tenure, extending his influence in Spain’s cultural landscape. The cabinet is expected to review and approve the proposal, enabling Segade to begin a new chapter guiding one of Europe’s most recognized contemporary art venues.
Segade, born in A Coruña in 1977, emerged as the top scorer in an election process that commenced on February 10 with the publication of the competition notice in the Boletín Oficial del Estado. The results reflected a broad assessment of leadership qualities, curatorial vision, and managerial experience aligned with the Reina Sofia’s strategic priorities. Earlier discussions among the museum’s governance bodies were informed by a rigorous vetting of finalists, as board members and senior cultural advisers reviewed the credentials of candidates selected by a committee of experts.
In parallel with the cabinet’s forthcoming deliberations, Segade has maintained a visible role in the Madrid art ecosystem. He currently serves as the director of the Dos de Mayo Art Center Museum in Móstoles, a key regional institution affiliated with the Community of Madrid. His academic background includes a Bachelor of Art History from the University of Santiago de Compostela, grounding his practice in both scholarly inquiry and hands-on museum leadership.
During his twenty-year tenure at the Dos de Mayo center, from 2003 to 2023, Segade curated a broad array of exhibitions that traveled within Spain and beyond national borders. His curatorial projects have spanned diverse media and platforms, reflecting a commitment to contemporary art’s evolving practices and its social resonance. Beyond curating, Segade has contributed to the education sector as a professor in university programs abroad, including teaching engagements in South Africa and Brazil, which broadened his understanding of international art economies and audience development.
Segade’s professional footprint also includes roles as a founder member of the European Art Assembly, a gathering point for European contemporary art directors to discuss pressing issues affecting the field. He is further identified as a founding member of the European Forum for Advanced Practice, an initiative backed by the COST European Community network, which emphasizes collaboration, research, and the advancement of contemporary art discourse across Europe. This blend of curatorial practice, education, and pan-European engagement positions Segade as a leader capable of guiding the Reina Sofia through an era of dynamic cultural dialogue and institutional adaptation. [Source: Ministry of Culture and Sports, official statements and biographical summaries, 2024]
Related posts:
Manuel Segade Named Director of Reina Sofía Museum: A New Era for Spanish Contemporary Art The goalscorers of Lionel Scaloni’s cycle in the Argentina national team Manuel Segade Leads Reina Sofía: A Vision for Contemporary Art and Public Access Girona overpower Mallorca in a 5-3 La Liga thriller to top the table Guernica at Reina Sofía: A Closer Look at the New Photo Policy Pushkin Museum Announces New Exhibitions and Global Art Initiatives Ana Esteve Reig and Reina Sofía’s Acquisition at ARCO Highlights a New Wave in Spanish Contemporary Art Real Betis edges Mallorca in a tense LaLiga clash Data-driven recap: Celta Vigo 1-1 Villarreal Alicante Museums Unite for International Museum Day 2025 Queen Sofía: A Quiet Power Behind the Spanish Monarchy Reina Sofia Museum’s 1982 World Cup Posters and Historic Alicante Imagery