About us
Our mission
El Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid It is a private, non-profit cultural entity declared a "Center for the Protection of Fine Arts and of Public Utility." Since its creation, el Círculo It has carried out important work of international scope in the field of cultural creation and dissemination. One of the most important private cultural centers in Europe, el Círculo It is characterized by its open attitude towards the most outstanding and innovative artistic movements.
It is a multidisciplinary center where activities are developed that range from the plastic arts to literature, including science, philosophy, film or the performing arts.
Our vision
En el Círculo We defend culture and thought as refuges from the noise produced by a dizzying social rhythm and the ever-present risk of only hearing the voices of those who shout the loudest.
Thanks to our programming of a wide variety of artistic expressions, we design spaces where different ways of seeing the world around us coexist, and where everyone can participate through debate, reflection, and active listening. We understand culture as a refuge, but it should not be an enclosed refuge. Therefore, we strengthen connections with other disciplines, such as science and education.
Management team
Director
Valerio Rocco Lozano
Programming Director
Laura Manzano Méndez
DDirector of Strategic Development and Publishing
Carolina del Olmo
Communications Director
Sofia Garcia Perez
Chief Financial Officer
Ana Sonia Zapata
Project Director and Institutional Relations
Pilar García Velasco
Board of Directors
President
Juan Miguel Hernández León
Vice President
Anton Patiño Perez
Secretary General
Ignacio Amestoy
Treasurer
María Jesús Leza Núñez
Members
Miguel Aguiló Alonso
Antonio Bueno Thomas
Manuel Cruz Rodríguez
Juan Cruz Ruiz placeholder image
Rafael Fernández del Amo
José Miguel García Sánchez
Fernando Leon de Aranoa
Rosa León Conde
Eva Lootz Pater
Jesus Prieto de Pedro
Alicia Moreno Espert
Fanny Rubio Gámez
Oliva Maria Rubio
José Luis Téllez Videras
Juan Angel Vela del Campo
Our history
A small group of artists founded it in April 1880 el Círculo de Bellas Artes as a center dedicated to cultural dissemination. During the early years of the 20th century, prominent figures in the cultural sphere, such as Jacinto Benavente and Carlos Arniches, were part of its board of directors. Meanwhile, a young Picasso attended painting classes, and Ramón María del Valle-Inclán frequented its salons.
The first president del Círculo de Bellas Artes It was the painter Juan Martínez de Espinosa. Between 1880 and 1926, el Círculo It changed its headquarters ten times, passing through different locations: Barquillo, 5; Madera, 8; Lobo, 10; Abada, 2; Libertad, 16; Barquillo, 11; Alcalá, 7; Alcalá, 14, until finally settling in Alcalá, 42.
Transparency
El Círculo de Bellas Artes de MadridAs a private, non-profit cultural entity dedicated to the creation, dissemination and promotion of contemporary arts and thought, it carries out its activities thanks to the collaboration of various public and private institutions.
