Present day
10-05-17
Banco Santander Foundation becomes a Board Member of The Bilbao Fine Arts Museum Foundation
The Guest Work programme, first launched at the museum in 2001 with the sculpture Bilbao (1982) by Richard Serra, introduces visitors to outstanding works temporarily loaned by other museums and collections which acquire new meaning in the museum through their presentation in the context of its permanent collection, displayed in the manner of an exhibition on a single work. In some cases the principal aim of the monographic exhibitions in this series is to enrich our vision of specific artists while in others it is to focus on ones not represented in the museum. The result has been the organisation of 57 editions of the programme in which 66 works have been exhibited (including the two by El Greco now being presented). In 2004 Fundación Banco Santander, which includes cultural sponsorship among its projects, joined this initiative as a sponsor, raising the programme's visibility and allowing for the organisation of various editions a year. Furthermore, on twelve occasions works have been loaned from the Banco Santander Collection.
After more than a decade as the programme's sponsor, Fundación Banco Santander is now strengthening its commitment to the museum by becoming a member of its Foundation, the museum's highest governing body. Members include institutional representatives the City Council of Bilbao, the Provincial Council of Bizkaia and the Basque Government together with other individuals and entities whose significant contributions to or expert knowledge of the museum's activities may assist in fully achieving its founding mission.
Patricia Arias, director of Banco Santander in the Basque Country, is joining the Board of the Fundación Museo Bellas Artes de Bilbao as the representative of Fundación Banco Santander.