Guest Researchers Programme

The programme guarantees the availability of an individual or group study space, access to MACBA Library and Archive resources and support from its staff members. Guest researchers can also take advantage of an in-house document lending service, obtain a Friends of MACBA card free of charge and present their project to the Research and Documentation Centre staff and other researchers. The MACBA Research and Documentation Centre also offers residencies for people conducting their professional activity at other archives and libraries in order to share experiences and knowledge on the processes and methodologies related to the management of documentary heritage.

This research support programme is aimed at academic researchers, artists and other people specialising in contemporary artistic practices. An individual residence involves the right to use a physical space located in the Centre’s Bibliographic Holdings, equipped with a personal computer, Internet access, office software and access to the Research and Documentation Centre’s databases, catalogues and other resources, including assistance from Library staff. The allocation of these places is granted for periods of between 1 and 3 months and these may be prolonged up to a maximum of 6 months under exceptional circumstances.

The research support programme for guest groups offers a group meeting and study space for research teams. All groups specialising in contemporary art and culture that are developing a research project related to these fields in contemporary art and culture can apply for this type of residency. Groups will have the chance to stage a public activity related to the subject of their research during their residency. Residency periods will have a maximum duration of 10 months and places will be allocated to a maximum of 3 groups within this period.

You must send the documentation listed to the following email address in order to apply for an individual or group residency place: psi@macba.cat.

• 01
  Letter of presentation that includes the proposed dates to start and end the residency period.
• 02
  Description of project to be developed, specifying the importance of the resources held in the Study and Documentation Centre for the project (maximum 3,000 characters).
• 03
  Academic and professional CV.

Reference letters or reports issued by artistic or academic institutions supporting the applicant will also be taken into account. Applicant candidates will receive a reply within a maximum of 90 days from the date of receiving their application.

The MACBA Research and Documentation Centre (CED) offers 3 unpaid residencies per year of between 5 and 10 working days in order to promote its work processes and methodologies, the functioning of its services and the development of its activities. The goal of these residencies is to foster ongoing training, improve professional skills, exchange knowledge and encourage collaboration with professionals working in libraries, archives, documentation centres, museums and institutions related to contemporary art. The call for applications for training residencies is always open to active professionals. Professionals interested in applying for a training residency can write to pef@macba.cat and send the following documentation:  

• 01
  Letter of authorisation from the head of the institution where they work guaranteeing that they can complete the residency.
• 02
  Letter of motivation that specifies their interest in the CED and proposed start and end dates of the requested residency period. 
• 03
  Academic and professional CV.