Visiting Malaga? Don’t miss the Centre d’Art Contemporain (CAC)! With its 2,000m2 of exhibition space, the CAC will fascinate you with its eclectic collection and experimental exhibitions.
In this article, you’ll find some useful tips to help you prepare for your visit to Malaga’s Centre d’art contemporain.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We made our own choices, visited the area anonymously, and paid our bills in full.
Why visit the Centre d’Art Contemporain de Malaga?
Is the CAC worth it? Our opinion:
We are convinced that contemporary art is a privileged vector for apprehending the soul of a country, and Malaga’s CAC is well worth a visit for its enriching journey.
This museum offers a striking panorama of 20th and 21st century Spanish art through a carefully curated selection of works.
Last but not least, the dynamic nature of the site, with its regularly changing exhibitions, temporary shows and stimulating encounters, makes it a lively place in the Soho district.
It’s even one of our favourite museums in Malaga!
Why is CAC Malaga famous?
The CAC has established itself as a major reference point for contemporary art in Spain, thanks to exhibitions byinternationally renowned artists such as Ai Weiwei, Maurizio Cattelan, Ron Mueck and Space Invader.
Housed in Malaga’s former wholesale market, the cultural center is also distinguished by its vast spaces, allowing spectacular works to be staged and bold dialogues between different artists to take place.
Our favorite work
While we generally enjoyed the dialogue between the museum’s emerging and more established artists, we particularly appreciated the work of Jorge Hernández.
He often depicts intimate stories, enigmatic in their blurred framing, that prove both evocative and captivating, like the cinematic canvas below:
Access: Contemporary Art Center, Malaga
Where is the CAC?
- On the banks of the Rio Guadalmedina,
- Calle Alemania, in the Soho district
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How to get there?
The easiest way is probably to come on foot! The Soho district is a great place to explore.
CAC Malaga is just a 15-minute walk from the Cathedral of the Incarnation, in the center of Malaga.
Otherwise, several bus lines (1, 3, 5) stop nearby.
Parking
There’s no dedicated parking and it’s hard to find a space nearby, but you can opt for Parking Alemania, Alameda de Colón, 24.
Useful tips: duration, schedules, eating…
Best time to visit
Come whenever you like! The site is relatively untouched by tourist traffic, and the airy spaces make it easy to move around, even when it’s busy.
Finally, the building is air-conditioned, making it a pleasant refuge on hot summer days.
Length of visit and main difficulties
Allow 1 hour for a tour of the exhibits and time to browse the museum’s boutique bookshop, packed with independent books.
However, we strongly advise you to take your time and opt for a guided tour to better understand the route. In fact, there are no on-site mediation facilities.
No problem to visit! The space is fully accessible to people with reduced mobility, as it is all on one level.
After your visit to CAC Malaga, you’ll be spoilt for choice:
- For a visit to the Soho murals: see more info and availability
- Extend your discovery of contemporary art at the Centre Pompidou Malaga
Advice on how to visit
There is no imposed direction of visit. We recommend you start with the permanent collection before discovering the temporary exhibitions.
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Visiting with children
Not only do the CAC’s exhibits provide a stimulating environment for children, they also offer a space for them to draw and read!
Ask for the schedule of creative workshops on site.
Schedules and rates
The CAC is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 8pm (closed on Mondays) and admission is free. Find out more on the official website here.
Catering
There are no restaurants on site, but just opposite the museum you’ll find Restaurant Oleo , offering an inventive sushi menu.
If you’re looking for a simple snack, opt for the Mimo Vegan Restaurant.
Otherwise, you’ll find plenty of tapas bars in the Soho district.
Look out for our Where to eat in Malaga article soon!
A plunge into Spanish and international contemporary art
Opened in 2003 with the aim of promoting the latest trends and forms of expression in contemporary art, the CAC now boasts over 400 works in its collection. It features eclectic works by local artists in a variety of media, from painting to video to monumental installations.
For our part, we spent a long time observing Theresa Chromati‘s 2m-high sculpture, which is both impressive and burlesque!
Note also that the collection regularly changes its layout, both to create diversity and, above all, to create surprising dialogues. We really appreciated the fact that emerging local artists were showcased alongside established artists.
A great way to promote local art! When we came, we were delighted to discover works by international artists such as Olafur Eliasson.
From old market to museum: a space dedicated to living art
CAC Málaga is housed in the city’s former wholesale market, a historic building covering over 2,000m2. This industrial space offers an ideal setting for showcasing the eclecticism of the works on display, while giving new life to a place steeped in history.
Thanks to the modularity of its rooms, it can accommodate both intimate paintings and monumental installations. Finally, the center comes alive with its temporary exhibitions, which are always surprising. During our visit, we had the chance to discover the fascinating work of Günther Förg and his large, colorful canvases.
The Centre d’art contemporain de Málaga is more than just an exhibition space: it’s also a lively place where art comes to life through a program of meetings and workshops.
There’s also a library where you can read up on the artists’ work, and for our part, we really appreciated the opportunity to buy multiples of artists’ works from the collection. A way to bring art home!
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