{"id":13235,"date":"2026-04-07T12:14:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T12:14:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lopesan.com\/blog\/blog\/el-centro-atlantico-de-arte-moderno-caam\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T08:54:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T08:54:31","slug":"atlantic-centre-of-modern-art-caam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lopesan.com\/blog\/en\/atlantic-centre-of-modern-art-caam\/","title":{"rendered":"Atlantic Centre of Modern Art, CAAM"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The CAAM, Atlantic Centre of Modern Art, is one of the most important spaces for modern and contemporary art<\/strong> in Gran Canaria. Located in the historic quarter of Vegueta, the CAAM links Europe, Africa and America through a cultural programme that is unique in the Canary Islands. Since its inauguration in 1989, the museum has promoted cultural exchange and has become a point of reference for those seeking a global artistic experience. A dialogue between cultures on both sides of the Atlantic. Want to know more? Then read on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes CAAM special?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Historically, the Canary Islands have been a key point in the Atlantic<\/strong> for commercial and cultural routes, especially in Europe’s expansion towards Africa and the Americas. This strategic location has made Gran Canaria, with its capital Las Palmas, a centre of exchange since colonial times.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CAAM strengthens this identity by giving visibility to local talent<\/strong>, promoting Canary Island artists on the international stage and also presenting artistic narratives that have been historically marginalised<\/strong>. Its pluralist vision creates an intercultural dialogue in which art is linked to everyday life in Gran Canaria, inviting the community to participate and learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Art experiences: what does CAAM offer?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like any museum of contemporary art, CAAM has a permanent collection, temporary exhibitions and interactive activities and workshops. However, a visit to CAAM is an opportunity to experience the richness of diversity: each exhibition and activity shows how art can be a meeting point<\/strong> between different perspectives and cultural origins, right in the heart of the Canary Islands. You will enter a space of interaction and discovery from which you will emerge with new perspectives!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The temporary exhibitions at CAAM stand out for their focus on innovation and cultural exchange. Photo from holaislascanarias.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cultural and educational programme<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In addition to its exhibitions, CAAM offers a cultural programme for everyone. Workshops, guided tours and special activities open up the space to those who want to learn and explore contemporary art in a more personal way. The Centre’s Education and Cultural Action Department <\/strong>(DEACCI\u00d3N) organises activities aimed at sharing experiences and discovering new ways of looking at art with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research and documentation resources at CAAM<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Library and Documentation Centre (BCD)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

CAAM’s Library and Documentation Centre (BCD) is an important resource for researchers, students and art lovers. With free access and a collection of nearly 80,000 items, it includes books, exhibition catalogues, audiovisual and electronic resources<\/strong> on a wide range of subjects, from film to comics to design. The special collection dedicated to the tri-continental nature of the centre stands out, offering unique material on art in Africa, Europe and America, and reinforcing CAAM’s link with its intercultural identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CAAM Research Laboratory – LAB CAAM<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Created in 2009, LAB CAAM is a space for reflection on contemporary art and museology<\/strong>. As a laboratory for the 21st century, it promotes interdisciplinary research on themes such as interculturality and tricontinentalism, supports the CAAM programme and offers advice to researchers. With digital and bibliographic resources, the LAB CAAM promotes current debates on art and culture and organises seminars, workshops and projects that enrich the vision of CAAM as a centre for artistic production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A museum with history: the transformation of a space<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The history of the CAAM is also the history of a group of restored historic buildings in the Vegueta neighbourhood. Inaugurated in 1989, the CAAM has three locations<\/strong>: the buildings at numbers 9 and 11 of Los Balcones street, and the San Antonio Abad exhibition hall, located in the square of the same name, a few metres from the other two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The CAAM, a perfect combination of traditional Canarian architecture and contemporary design. Photo by holaislascanarias.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The refurbishment of the buildings on Los Balcones Street was the work of the architect Francisco Javier S\u00e1enz de Oiza<\/strong>, who respected the original fa\u00e7ades: number 11, in neoclassical style and attributed to Manuel de Le\u00f3n y Falc\u00f3n, and number 9, with geometric lines on stone. The interior of the four-storey building combines modern structures with traditional Canarian elements, such as the central patio, which is the perfect place to display the art of the CAAM of Gran Canaria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since its inauguration in 1989 with the exhibition ‘Surrealism between the Old and New Worlds’, the CAAM has promoted an innovative approach. Under the direction of its first director, Mart\u00edn Chirino, the museum consolidated its intercultural mission<\/strong> and became a reference point for linking different artistic and cultural practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cultural activities and programmes at CAAM<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to its exhibitions, CAAM organises cultural programmes ranging from music to sound art and critical thinking. With activities such as \u00c1tico tertulias, the CAAMSonora programme and the JazzCAAM programme, the museum offers a space where art can be experienced in many different ways. These activities create a dynamic and accessible experience for all types of audiences, inviting them to explore contemporary creation from different angles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips for making the most of your visit to CAAM<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you are planning to visit CAAM, here are some practical tips to help you get the most out of the experience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n