Barcelona has a solid tradition of collecting, with figures such as Antoni Vila Casas, Ernesto Ventós, and Josep Suñol, who built collections and shared them with the public through foundations. However, today it is perceived that there are few active collectors, especially when compared to Madrid or European capitals such as Brussels or Paris. This scarcity is not just a statistic: it is a challenge for society, because the role of the collector is key for the artistic ecosystem to function.
When speaking with agents in the sector, it is confirmed that collecting in Barcelona is fragmented and difficult to quantify. There is a widespread belief that collecting "is not for me": some fear approaching a world perceived as elitist or opaque, and for most, the first step seems unattainable due to the economic investment it entails. However, collecting is not exclusive to great fortunes: Barcelona's art galleries offer works for all budgets. Many collectors are professionals linked to culture, design, or creativity, who feel a genuine interest in art and decide to support it by acquiring works and making an economic effort in an attempt to democratize access to this field.
In this context, initiatives such as The Collector is Present, organized by Barcelona Gallery Weekend, seek to make visible and highlight the figure of the collector and their relationship with the art gallery. This year celebrates its fourth edition, which will take place from May 14 to 16, showing its continuity in the city. "The objective is to encourage other people to collect and allow collectors themselves to explain their experience," explains Mariña Á. Pino, director of Barcelona Gallery Weekend. Through talks and meetings, collectors from the city share their experience, focusing on the relationships established between collectors, gallerists, and artists, the different ways of approaching art, and the possible motivations for acquiring it.
The challenge goes beyond economic capacity, as it demands a change in the aforementioned public perception. Marc Francés, a young collector based between Brussels and Barcelona, emphasizes that “there is an aura of elitism, lack of transparency, and prejudice against the art world that prevents many people from approaching it.” Nevertheless, he highlights that in Barcelona he has found “a healthy, not very speculative environment, where artists, gallerists, and collectors genuinely love what they do.” The task, he states, is to attract new audiences, explain how the art world works, and make them feel welcome, incorporating the purchase of an artwork as a way to support culture.
Programs like MACBA Studio, from the MACBA Foundation, demonstrate that it is possible to promote collecting among new generations. Launched in 2022, it encourages collecting among young people under 35 through private visits to artists' studios, meetings with curators, gallery tours, access to fairs, and cultural trips. The group brings together young people who are starting their journey in collecting and others with more experience, all linked by their commitment to MACBA and the artistic ecosystem. Thanks to this participation, members contribute directly to the growth of the museum's Collection and to the development of collecting in a new generation. A few weeks ago, MACBA Studio received the "A" Award for Collecting from the ARCO Foundation, a recognition of its work and its ability to bring contemporary art closer and foster collecting among young people.
Also SOFT Collectors, from the Chiquita Room gallery, demonstrates that it is possible to make collecting an accessible practice. As Laura González Palacios, the gallery director, explains, “it is an excellent entry point into art collecting, in an affordable and accessible way. We try to break down social and economic barriers that, due to lack of knowledge or contact with the sector, can prevent people from starting to acquire artworks and build a collection.” Its annual subscription model of €150 includes receiving three graphic works or artist editions throughout the year, coinciding with important dates on the calendar: Epiphany, Sant Jordi, and Barcelona Gallery Weekend.
Barcelona is not Brussels or Paris, but it has an active community willing to accompany new generations of collectors. The base may be smaller, but the ecosystem is solid and there is a clear will to grow. The real challenge is in society: democratizing collecting, fostering the culture of art acquisition, and recognizing the essential role of the collector in sustaining artists and galleries. Because without committed collectors, the artistic ecosystem loses momentum and, with it, the possibility for the city to unleash its full cultural potential.