The University of Navarra Museum (MUN) celebrated its tenth anniversary this past Thursday, January 23, with a commemorative event that paid tribute to all those people who made this project possible as we know it today. This event was the starting point of a year dedicated to commemorating the first decade of the museum's existence, which since its inauguration on January 22, 2015, in a building designed by architect Rafael Moneo, has consolidated itself as a cultural reference on the campus of the University of Navarra.
As a university museum, the MUN combines artistic creation with interdisciplinary research, transformative education and outreach, maintaining a strong social commitment through art. Its foundations date back to two major donations: that of the photographer José Ortiz Echagüe, who in 1981 donated 1,200 works, and that of the Navarrese collector María Josefa Huarte, who significantly expanded the collection in 2008. Thanks to these contributions, the museum began its journey with a collection of great value that has grown to include 25,000 pieces.
Throughout 2025, thanks to the collaboration between Pamplona City Council and the museum, visits to all exhibitions are completely free. This initiative seeks to facilitate citizens' access to cultural heritage, promoting knowledge and enjoyment of this unique space. During the inaugural event, the fundamental work of the people and professionals who have contributed to consolidating the MUN as an artistic reference was highlighted, while the main successes achieved throughout its history were highlighted. Among these are the 60 exhibitions organized to date, the residencies of plastic and performing artists, the 130 publications and initiatives such as the dialogue between art and science, the SociARTE program for social innovation and the creation of an international promoting board.
'Aurelia Inmortal', Javier Viver (2017)
With the motto 'This is not a Museum', the MUN invites everyone to participate in a varied program of activities over the coming months. These include its participation in ARCOmadrid , with an exhibition in the Sala Consell and the presentation of the catalog of the exhibition 'Colección MUN. Cuatro décadas' in March, as well as the inauguration of the 60th exhibition, dedicated to Eadweard Muybridge , in the same month. Activities such as an escape room in the exhibition halls, the celebration of the 1 millionth visitor and new workshops within the SociARTE program have also been promoted, among which the one developed with the Luciérnaga Association, dedicated to Asperger's syndrome and autism stands out. Other relevant events include the presentation of the ÓPEN program at the Teatro Real in Madrid , a new production of young opera at the Teatro del MUN in April and the performance of Aterballetto , considered the best contemporary dance company in Italy.
This tenth anniversary is also an opportunity to highlight the MUN collection, which was initially consolidated under the artistic direction of figures such as Rafael Levenfeld and Valentín Vallhonrat, who were later joined by Rafael Llano, José Manuel Garrido and Fernando Pagola. This collection includes an extensive selection of photographs, with works by national and international artists made in Spain from the beginnings of the photographic technique to the present day, as well as a diversity of pieces from disciplines such as painting, sculpture, video installations and works created with artificial intelligence. All these works have established a constant dialogue with the foundational pieces, giving rise to a growing collection that not only preserves the past, but also promotes new forms of artistic expression. Through these incorporations and artistic residencies, 60 memorable exhibitions have been configured, with prominent names from the contemporary scene such as Joan Fontcuberta , the arrival of artificial intelligence to the museum with Florilegium, and other projects such as Small Data Lab and Sikka Ingentium by Daniel Canogar , El no retorno by Cecilia Paredes , with more than 30 works developed over two decades, or Aurelia Inmortal by Javier Viver , thus consolidating the MUN as a reference space in artistic creation and exploration.
'El no retorno', Cecilia Paredes (2019)