MARÍA LUCÍA ALEMÁN: "CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS ARE UNITING THE REGION MORE"

The Central American region has a relevant artistic movement, however, this is not accompanied by a strong institutional structure. Panama takes the lead with a Museo de Arte Contemporáneo (MAC Panama) with consistent programs and a firm structure, which has been adjusted to the needs of the current times.

On the construction of institutional narratives and how they can favor cultural narratives throughout the region, the discussion Construyendo narrativas institucionales (Building institutional narratives), part of the FORO initiative, of Pinta Panama Art Week brings together María Lucía Alemán –Executive Director of MAC Panama, Panama–; Manuel Segade Lodeiro –Director of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Spain– and Rafael Tamayo Franco –Director of the Museum of Modern Art of Medellín (MAMM), Colombia– in a conversation moderated by Elena González, Director of the Cultural Center of Spain in Panama.

The purpose of the meeting is to think about how institutional narratives are constructed and reformulated, how they are articulated with their local and regional contexts, and how they contribute to rethink the representation of Central America and the construction of new cultural narratives.

"An institutional story, from my perspective, is this coherent project of why we do what we do. From there comes that vision that will permeate the rest of the organization and its programming. In terms of museums: the exhibition programs, the educational programs, the programs for audiences," says María Lucía Alemán, who recognizes in this activity a great opportunity to compare and share both for MAC Panama, for the other participants, as well as for the attendees of the sector to find common ground and consider if they want to work with institutions such as those represented in the forum. "This meeting opens up in many ways to contribute to strengthening the discourses, to strengthen the way we do what we do, to generate empathy and understanding and new work networks," she considers.

The intention is to encourage the countries of the region to strengthen their institutions to achieve much more coordinated work that benefits everyone.

Although Panama is not a common member of the Central American market, in economic or socio-political terms, the director of the MAC has noted in recent years that "cultural expressions are uniting the region more.  Initiatives such as the Primera Mirada program established by the International Film Festival of Panama (IFF Panama), validate her thinking.

And in the absence of institutions that support the initiatives of Central American artists in their countries, "a logical step for them is to come and work at the MAC, exhibit at the MAC, or curate something at the MAC. But, when it comes to projecting ourselves abroad, we must realize that we definitely have to unite because the context is very diverse and there are very specific initiatives to internationalize artists or art from these countries," she says.

In addition, she sees an immense opportunity, because institutions of international scope visualize these countries as a region. "The Reina Sofia does not look at Panama, the Reina Sofia does not look at Guatemala, the Reina Sofia does not look at Nicaragua... the Reina Sofía looks to Central America. The Museo del Chopo, in Mexico, also comes to work more with Central America. They have been working a lot with the north, with the United States and they are looking south towards their neighbors in Central America." And the guidance or accompaniment in these processes will be given through allied organizations in each country.

"The MAC is included in these conversations in the absence of other actors and also, it must be said, because we are doing things well, in a coherent way. There is a narrative and a consistent, persistent and coherent work with the global circuits and with the good practices of art, which is why they are also including us in these conversations and in that openness of how the region is rethought," he considers.

And from this conversation new initiatives will surely be generated, which each one will modify according to their specific situations and needs "And that is where the magic begins," she concludes.

The FORO of Pinta Panama Art Week 2026, a cycle curated by Irene Gelfman, focuses on reflection on Central American contemporary art and "proposes to reflect on the construction of institutional narratives in the contemporary context and on the role that museums and cultural centers occupy today in the production and circulation of new discourses on art."

Construyendo narrativas institucionales will take place on Friday, March 20 at 3:30 pm at the Cultural Center of Spain - Casa del Soldado.