José Luis de Vicente leaves the direction of the Design Museum

BarcelonaThe curator and cultural researcher José Luis de Vicente (Granada, 1973) leaves the direction of the Barcelona Design Museum two and a half years after his appointment, according to the The Punt Avui and ARA has been able to confirm from municipal sources, which indicate that De Vicente is leaving the position "to undertake new professional challenges." According to the same sources, a competition is planned to replace him.

De Vicente assumed the direction of the facility after winning a public competition called by the Icub, replacing Pilar Vélez. Regarding his project, the jury highlighted "the definition of a strategic framework that stands out for its commitment to new formats and platforms that provide a plus of innovation and experimentation and that is very well positioned in the current and international context"; and that his project took into account "diverse groups, as well as neighborhood entities." "This is a project that embodies the excitement, emotion, and desire for a new era for the Barcelona Design Museum, in which the facility must play a coordinating role with the cultural and artistic fabric of the city, within the framework of the new cultural centrality represented by Plaça de les Glòries," stated the minutes.

A twist on the museum line

The choice of De Vicente marked a shift in the heritage-based approach Pilar Vélez adopted for the center. However, at the same time, De Vicente's profile fits with the initial vision envisioned for the center before its opening, led by Ramon Prat, which was later abandoned when a political shift occurred at Barcelona City Hall and Xavier Trias took over as mayor.

During De Vicente's tenure, some of the center's most successful temporary exhibitions have been seen, includingThe ocean speaksandVinçon/Ikea. 100 Ikea items we wish we had in Vinçon. Matter matters He undertook an ambitious renovation of the center's long-term exhibitions that raised a storm.

Since it opened, the Glòries facility has been managed by two leaders: in February of last year, the Councilor for Culture, Xavier Marcé, announced the creation of a new Directorate of Cultural Industries within the Icub, headed by Mireia Escobar, who was the director of the Dhub. At that time, Escobar continued as the center's executive director, and De Vicente took over as artistic director to develop a coherent program between the Design Museum and the Dhub.