El Círculo de Bellas Artes It is consolidating its position as the fifth most valued cultural institution in the Community of Madrid.

 The Festival of Ideas and the Climate Refuge occupy relevant positions in different regional and national rankings, prepared by the 461 professionals from the cultural sector who have participated in this edition of the Observatory.

The Atlas Palacios multimedia project, with which el Círculo It promotes the study of the figure of Antonio Palacios, and has also been included in this assessment as one of the best works of digital culture.

The Contemporary Foundation has published the Culture Observatory 2024The report, which involved 461 professionals from the cultural sector across the country, compiles a series of rankings and indicators related to the cultural activity of our cities and communities. Its aim is to showcase a wide range of high-quality offerings, backed by the endorsement of leading experts in the cultural field.

In this in-depth study of cultural life in Spain, el Círculo de Bellas Artes It ranks nationally as one of the ten essential cultural centers in 2024 (number 7). In the overall ranking, which includes up to 108 institutions and activities from all over the country, el Círculo It climbs three places compared to last year and reaches thirtieth place. The Festival of Ideas and the Climate Shelter were two particularly noteworthy projects in the latest edition of the Observatory. Both events appear among the most highly valued proposals in the Community of Madrid. The fifth position del Círculo del Círculo de Bellas Artes in the region it appears expressly linked to the Climate Refuge.

Also, the Festival of Ideas It ranks second nationally among newly created cultural projects and sixth among all projects in the Madrid region. It also stands out for its second-place ranking in the category of Essential Literature and Thought Fairs and Festivals at the national level, second only to the Madrid Book Fair.

The Refuge, which involved transforming the Ballroom into a large open plaza for citizens to escape the high temperatures during the summer, has also been included as one of the exemplary projects for its social commitment and sustainable development (seventh position nationally).

Organized by La Fábrica and el Círculo de Bellas ArtesThe Festival of Ideas celebrated its first edition last September and was supported by thousands of people who filled streets, squares and cultural spaces in Madrid, turning the city into a great agora of thought.

Furthermore, the Festival of Ideas ranks second nationally among newly created cultural projects and sixth among all projects in the Madrid region. It also holds second place in the category of Essential Literature and Thought Fairs and Festivals at the national level, second only to the Madrid Book Fair.

The Refuge, which involved transforming the Ballroom into a large open plaza for citizens to escape the high temperatures during the summer, has also been included as one of the exemplary projects for its social commitment and sustainable development (seventh position nationally).

Organized by La Fábrica and el Círculo de Bellas ArtesThe Festival of Ideas celebrated its first edition last September and was supported by thousands of people who filled streets, squares and cultural spaces in Madrid, turning the city into a great agora of thought.

The project was born with the aim of creating a space for debate where future challenges such as artificial intelligence, the climate crisis, democracy, and social media could be addressed. With the participation of more than 130 national and international speakers, the Festival offered a plurality of perspectives, with the collaboration of philosophers, writers, artists, and

journalists, who fostered a genuine collective catharsis. The next edition of the Festival will be held from September 18 to 21 under the title “Labyrinths”.

Finally, the Observatory also includes the Palacios Atlas in its list highlighting the best of digital culture. This multimedia project promotes the study of Antonio Palacios through a contemporary dialogue between his most significant buildings. A cartography of images and sounds, it redefines how we interpret the relationship between Galicia and Madrid within their architectural ensemble.

Balance del Círculo in 2024

El Círculo de Bellas Artes It attracted 431.000 visitors in 2024, who participated in the wide range of exhibitions, debates and presentations, concerts, rooftop events, and parties organized by the institution throughout the year. This figure demonstrates the great success of the institution's activities, which are key players in local and national cultural life.

The director del CírculoValerio Rocco emphasized the importance of the topics chosen for the various debates and meetings, “focused on the issues that most concern contemporary society.” “To this end,” he added, “we have invited leading international figures in thought and culture, with the intention of offering a space for reflection and dialogue open to all citizens.” “Thanks to the support of numerous public and private organizations and institutions, we have completed a year in which culture has shown the way toward a more just, sustainable, pluralistic, and supportive society,” Rocco concluded, adding that “it is essential to delve deeper into the points of intersection between culture and disciplines such as science, medicine, and education, in order to achieve true social transformation.”

Throughout the year, the exhibition proposal del Círculo It has included exhibitions featuring Gervasio Sánchez, Didi-Huberman, Colita, and Cristina García Rodero. During the last quarter, the focus shifted to environmental themes with “HyperObjects” (a survey of the work of the most influential artists of the new media generation), “Messenger Species” by Álvaro Soler-Arpa, and “The Greatest Emergency,” curated by Santiago Zabala. Finally, in December, a major exhibition dedicated to Max Ernst opened and will remain on display. el Círculo until May; and the world's largest Dalí.

El Círculo It has also been the setting for major discussions and numerous activities related to ecology, science, and health. In 2024, the second edition of the "Science, Medicine, and Humanism" series began, organized in conjunction with the Lilly Foundation, bringing together renowned intellectuals and leading figures from the scientific world. In addition, numerous workshops, conferences, and roundtables were held as part of the "Climate Autumn" program, which fostered debate on the ecological and social impact of digitalization, in collaboration with the Autonomous University of Madrid.

Delving deeper into intergenerational culture, the Futuro Senior forums, organized with Merck and the Banco Sabadell Foundation, focused on senior talent, its inclusion, and its coexistence with younger generations. The Kafka Year, commemorating the centenary of his death, and the tribute to Paul Auster were also essential events last year.

Other initiatives, such as the Poetry Round Table, Podcast Station, Great Listeners, or the classical and jazz music series, Carnival and Night of the Dead, have once again attracted audiences of all ages, makingel Círculo a place of intergenerational coexistence.