Ibiza-born curator and writer Bartomeu Marí Ribas has been selected as the next director of the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo (CAAC) in Seville, bringing an extensive international museum career to one of Spain's leading contemporary art institutions.

Marí, born in Ibiza in 1966, was selected from 25 candidates following a public selection process organised by the Junta de Andalucía.

His appointment will also cover the Centro de Creación Contemporánea de Andalucía (C3A) in Córdoba, which operates under the CAAC.

The appointment still requires formal approval by the Consejo de Gobierno of the Junta de Andalucía. The regional Minister of Culture, Patricia del Pozo, is expected to put forward his appointment in the coming days.

An International Museum Career

Marí has held senior positions at several major contemporary art institutions around the world.

He was director of the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) from 2008 to 2015, before becoming director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) of the Republic of Korea, where he served from 2015 to 2018.

Between 2019 and 2020, he directed the Museo de Arte de Lima (MALI) in Peru.

Earlier in his career, he directed the Witte de With contemporary art centre in Rotterdam, now known as Kunstinstituut Melly, from 1996 to 2001.

He has also been associated with institutions including Tabakalera, the IVAM in Valencia and the Fondation pour l'Architecture.

Experience Beyond Museum Direction

Marí's career extends beyond institutional leadership.

He served as president of CIMAM, the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art within the International Council of Museums, from 2014 to 2016.

He was curator of the Taipei Biennial in Taiwan in 2002 and curated the Spanish Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2005.

His recent exhibition projects include John Baldessari. Parables, Fables and Other Tall Tales at Bozar in Brussels in 2026, Muntadas. Otros Miedos at MUNA in Pamplona in 2025 and Lejos del Vacío. ZERO y el arte de postguerra en Europa at the IVAM in Valencia between 2022 and 2023.

Selected From 25 Candidates

The selection process attracted 25 candidates and was overseen by an evaluation committee comprising Miguel Zugaza, Beatriz Espejo and José Ignacio Roca.

The process assessed candidates' professional careers and their artistic projects for the CAAC and C3A, as well as interviews with finalists about their proposed lines of work.

The Junta said the process followed the recommendations of Spain's Good Practices Document for Museums and Art Centres.

The public selection process was launched in January 2026, with the application period subsequently extended. The official CAAC documentation confirms that the final consolidated selection rules were published as part of the recruitment process.

His Vision for Andalusian Contemporary Art

Marí's proposed project for the CAAC and C3A is built around several strategic priorities.

These include increasing the international visibility of Andalusian art, strengthening relationships with the community of Andalusian artists and addressing contemporary social challenges through exhibitions with social and intellectual impact.

His proposal also aims to explore connections between contemporary art and other forms of cultural heritage.

A New Chapter for the CAAC and C3A

The CAAC is based at the former Monastery of the Cartuja de Santa María de las Cuevas in Seville and is an autonomous institution under the Junta de Andalucía's culture department.

Its work includes the preservation and development of its collection, the promotion of contemporary visual arts and the organisation of exhibitions, educational programmes, workshops, conferences and other cultural activities.

The C3A in Córdoba forms part of the same institutional structure and focuses specifically on contemporary creation.

Marí's selection therefore places him at the head of two important institutions within Andalusia's contemporary art network.

An Ibiza Connection to a Major Cultural Institution

For Ibiza, the appointment represents the latest international achievement for a cultural professional born on the island.

Marí's career has taken him from institutions in Spain to major museums and contemporary art organisations in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

His selection for the CAAC and C3A now brings that international experience to two Andalusian institutions, subject to the formal approval of his appointment by the Junta de Andalucía's governing council.

For an Ibiza-born figure whose career has included leading some of the world's recognised contemporary art institutions, the appointment marks another significant connection between the island and the international art world.