The Government has appointed Joan Oliveras i Bagués as the new president of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC). The Department of Culture highlights that the businessman, jeweler, and designer is a passionate art and culture enthusiast, patron, and civil society activist.
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President of Bagués-Masriera Joiers, he is a member of the Fundació Amics del MNAC since 2005 and of the board of trustees of the Fundació Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana. He has also been vice-president of the Fundació Museu Picasso de Barcelona (2013-2020); a member of the Fundació de l'Orfeó Català-Palau de la Música Catalana (2011-2014) and an academic of the Reial Acadèmia de les Belles Arts de Sant Jordi, among others.
As a jeweler-artisan, he has been founder and president of the Col·legi Oficial de Joiers, orfebres, rellotgers i gemmòlegs de Catalunya and of the Federació Catalana de Joiers, Orfebres i Rellotgers (1998-2002). He has also presided over the Barnajoya and Novajoia fairs, of which he was a founder.
On the other hand, regarding his commercial aspect, his presidency in Barcelona Shopping Line-Turisme de Barcelona, in the Fundació Barcelona and in the Associació d'Amics de La Rambla stands out. Likewise, he has been recognized with several distinctions and awards, such as the Gold Medal of Fira de Barcelona; the Medal of Honor for merit from the Guardia Urbana de Barcelona, and the honorary award from the Col·legi Oficial de Joiers, Orfebres, Rellotgers i Gemmòlegs de Catalunya.
After nine years
Miquel Roca i Junyent leaves office after nine years as president of the MNAC. The Catalan executive emphasizes that, during his mandate, the museum has followed "an intense process of change and transformation with very positive results". He highlights the promotion of numerous projects and collaborations in the artistic, educational, and social fields, which has led to an increase in its presence and relevance, thus doubling the number of visitors.
Some of the main lines have been the deployment of the Xarxa de Museus d'Art, the renovation of the Renaissance and Baroque and Modern Art collections, as well as the beginning of the extension of the museum's narrative to the post-war years, the definition of the bases for the future expansion of the museum and the international deployment of the museum's collections with projects with European museums and itinerancies of the collection in China, Brazil or Japan.
The Minister of Culture, Àngels Ponsa, wanted to "thank on behalf of the Government the fruitful work of Roca i Junyent at the head of the institution" and encouraged "Oliveras i Bagués to continue making this true national art structure that we love grow together."