Description of the attraction
The Museum of Modern Art, popularly called the MAC for short, was until recently the only museum of its kind in Panama. In January 2017, another art gallery opened in Panama City, displaying works by contemporary painters. It is called MoMA.
The Museum of Modern Art (MAK) is located on Avenue de los Martires. It was founded under the name Panama Institute of the Arts in 1962. It was a non-profit institution dedicated to the promotion of Panamanian art. In 1983 it was named the Museum of Modern Art. It remains private. It is sponsored by various companies and art collectors. Until 1983, the Panama Institute was housed in rented premises and did not have its own permanent building. In addition to exhibitions of works of art, the institute organized theatrical performances and concerts, as well as screenings of films by famous directors. When organizing exhibitions of works by Panamanian and Latin American artists, the institute asked them to donate one of their paintings. Thus, a valuable collection of art canvases was soon assembled, which did not have a repository.
In 1983, the board of directors of the Art Museum decided to find a building where all the exhibits could be placed. A fundraising campaign was announced for the purchase, renovation and reconstruction of the old Masonic temple. This is where the Panama Museum of Contemporary Art is located.
The collection of the museum includes about 650 works of art. There are paintings, graphics, sculpture, photography and even installations and video works. The authors of these works are renowned artists from Central and South America.
