The Basque Government and the Bizkaia Local Authority reaffirm their commitment to strengthening ties with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in New York.

• The President of the Basque Government and the Deputy General of Bizkaia visit the Museum's headquarters in New York to signify the beginning of a new phase in the relationship between Basque institutions and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.
• The meeting is defined by emerging social challenges and evolving trends in the art world, alongside the transition of all key figures involved in the project.

This morning, key Basque institutions, led by President of the Basque Government Imanol Pradales, and Elixabete Etxanobe, Deputy General of Bizkaia, convened with representatives of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation at its headquarters in New York. The meeting served to further strengthen the relationship between the parties and reaffirm their shared commitment to the continued success of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao project. The meeting marked the commencement of a new phase, defined by emerging social challenges, evolving trends within the art world, and the transition of leadership to a new generation of figures who will guide the project forward.

In addition to their visit to the Foundation, Pradales and Etxanobe engaged in a meeting with Mariët Westermann, the newly appointed Director and CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation in New York, who assumed her role last year.

The Basque delegation for this visit was further comprised of Ibone Bengoetxea, Vice President and Minister of Culture and Linguistic Policy; Leixuri Arrizabalaga, Minister for the Basque Language, Culture, and Sport of the Bizkaia Local Authority, Juan Ignacio Vidarte, Director of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao; his successor, Miren Arzalluz, who will assume the role in April; and Jon Azua, representative of the Basque institutions on the Board of Trustees of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.

This meeting, which has reinforced the commitment to the Guggenheim Bilbao project and fostered new synergies within the incoming team, forms part of the institutional visit led by President Imanol Pradales to the United States, as part of the Euskadi Global strategy.

In his remarks, the President reflected on the commitment made three decades ago to champion the establishment of the Museum in Bilbao during a challenging period. Today, he noted with pride, it stands as the Guggenheim Museum that attracts the highest number of visitors. For Imanol Pradales, this commitment serves as a prime example of the Euskadi Global strategy, underscoring the vital role of culture as a cornerstone of international prominence and highlighting the importance of transatlantic agreements that are currently facing significant challenges. Regarding the future of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Pradales underscored the importance of "continuing to view the world through this lens, firmly anchored in Basque soil and our deep roots. We must further explore the foundations of the prosperity and well-being we have achieved. This must be done with a comprehensive understanding of project viability, encompassing social, cultural, economic, and environmental dimensions. We are fully committed to this endeavour," he stated.

For her part, Elixabete Etxanobe, Deputy General of Bizkaia, reaffirmed the steadfast intention to "continue advancing together and exploring new opportunities.” She emphasised that Bilbao aims to further enrich the Guggenheim constellation at this pivotal moment. "To this end, we have a woman of exceptional talent, Miren Arzalluz. I am confident that she will bring her full capabilities to bear in achieving new heights.”

The Guggenheim Bilbao, a paragon of success

The Guggenheim stands as a model of success and global recognition. The data substantiates the positive impact it generates in the Basque Country. In 2024, it recorded 1.3 million visitors, resulting in an economic impact of 780 million euros.

Founded in 1937, the mission of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation is to foster the understanding and appreciation of art, architecture, and other expressions of modern and contemporary visual culture, while collecting, preserving, and researching the art of our time.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation currently owns and manages the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum on Fifth Avenue in New York, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection along the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy, and offers programming and resources to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. The President highlighted that the Basque Country, through the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, is an integral part of this system.