The museum describes itself as an open, multiple space, founded in 1994, for contemporary art and design from Central America and its ties to Latin America and beyond. Its collection runs from painting, printmaking, drawing and sculpture to photography, installation and video.
It works out of a former national liquor factory founded in 1856, with four exhibition rooms and an outdoor space used for performance, installation and music. As printed on its visitor page, the rooms open Tuesday to Saturday and admission is free for local and foreign visitors.
Our summary of the quotes on this page. It adds no facts of its own.
Media named in the quotes belowPaintingPrintmakingDrawingSculpturePhotographyInstallationVideo
What it is
El Museo de Arte y Diseño Contemporáneo , fundado en 1994, es “un espacio abierto y múltiple”.
Our translation The Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, founded in 1994, is 'an open and multiple space'.
difundimos y promovemos de manera permanente las tendencias más recientes y dinámicas del arte y el diseño contemporáneos dentro de la región centroamericana, así como sus vínculos con el ámbito latinoamericano e internacional.
Our translation We permanently disseminate and promote the most recent and dynamic trends in contemporary art and design in the Central American region, and their links with Latin America and the wider world.
El MADC cuenta con 4 salas de exposiciones y un espacio exterior, Pila de la Melaza, que se utiliza para eventos multidisciplinarios diversos (performances, instalaciones, música, entre otros).
Our translation MADC has 4 exhibition rooms and an outdoor space, the Pila de la Melaza (molasses vat), used for multidisciplinary events (performances, installations, music and more).
Créase el Museo de Arte y Diseño Contemporáneos, con sede en el Centro Nacional de la Cultura. Será un órgano de desconcentración máxima del Ministerio de Cultura Juventud y Deportes
Our translation The Museum of Contemporary Art and Design is hereby created, headquartered at the Centro Nacional de la Cultura. It shall be a maximally deconcentrated body of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
El Museo de Arte y Diseño Contemporáneo (MADC) se encuentra ubicado en las instalaciones de la antigua Fábrica Nacional de Licores (Fanal), fundad en 1856.
Our translation MADC is housed in the former National Liquor Factory (Fanal), founded in 1856.
En noviembre del 2018, el Museo fue cerrado por tres meses para someterlo a una remodelación, la primera desde 1993, coincidiendo con el 25 aniversario de la institución.
Our translation In November 2018 the museum closed for three months for a renovation, the first since 1993, coinciding with its 25th anniversary.
La Colección Permanente del MADC cuenta con un patrimonio importante de arte contemporáneo de Centroamérica, con obras de reconocidos artistas costarricenses, centroamericanos e internacionales, que incluye variadas técnicas y lenguajes: desde la pintura, el grabado, el dibujo o la escultura, hasta la fotografía, la instalación, el objeto intervenido, el video entre otras.
Our translation MADC's permanent collection holds an important body of Central American contemporary art by recognized Costa Rican, Central American and international artists, in techniques from painting, printmaking, drawing and sculpture to photography, installation, the intervened object and video.
Dates last found on the organizer's page on October 19, 2026. The status above is worked out in your browser from today's date in Costa Rica. Opening hours, fees and closures aren't part of this listing; check with the venue.
Status needs JavaScriptJuly 30, 2026 to February 13, 2027
Cuidados extensivos: bienestar a través del diseño
Dates, as the organizer prints them
Del 30 de julio de 2026 a 13 de febrero del 2027
Our translation From 30 July 2026 to 13 February 2027
Dates last found on the organizer's page on October 19, 2026. The status above is worked out in your browser from today's date in Costa Rica. Opening hours, fees and closures aren't part of this listing; check with the venue.
Status needs JavaScriptJuly 2, 2026 to September 15, 2026
El último linotipista, prácticas impresas de San José
Dates, as the organizer prints them
Inauguración: 2 de julio de 2026 De 2 de julio al 15 de septiembre de 2026
Our translation Opening: 2 July 2026. From 2 July to 15 September 2026
Dates last found on the organizer's page on October 19, 2026. The status above is worked out in your browser from today's date in Costa Rica. Opening hours, fees and closures aren't part of this listing; check with the venue.