About the Museum
plan estrategico

Strategic Plan

At a complex point in time due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is affecting the world at the global level, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, in line with its path as a leading institution in the cultural and artistic worlds, as a driving force of the regional economy, and as an institution always focused on elevating the human spirit through access to modern and contemporary art and their values, has formulated a new Strategic Plan for 2021-2023.

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, which has been an element of transformation and resiliency since its beginnings, remains firm and true to this essence when it comes to addressing the future challenges that the pandemic has set forth for the upcoming years at the global and local levels, as well as for the institution’s activities. While it is true that the pandemic has greatly disrupted mobility, human and social relations, and the economic context, it has also served as a time for reflection, both personal and institutional. Under these circumstances and as during previous times, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao has created its Strategic Plan based on an analysis of the internal and external context, which has allowed it to identify challenges for the 2021–2023 strategic period and the essential and current strengths that it possesses to address this phase.

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Mission Statement

To collect, preserve, and research modern and contemporary art, and to present it from multiple perspectives within the context of the History of Art, addressing a broad, diverse audience, so as to contribute to the knowledge and enjoyment of art and the values that it represents, within a unique architectural landmark, as an essential part of the Guggenheim network, and a symbol of the vitality of the Basque Country.

Visión

Vision

Far from being a goal or a strict deadline in time, ever since it was defined, the Vision has been considered a framework for the Museum to organically and consistently develop its activities and Strategic Initiatives. Once in the year 2020 and taking the current situation into consideration, the Museum’s directors still believe that it is timely to possess a vision structuring its strategic planning and propose to extend the Vision 2020 over the 2021–2023 strategic period, as follows:

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao will be recognized as a European leader in innovation and in the creation of a visitor-centered museum experience. It will continue to play an active role in the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, both in the development of new cultural, artistic, and educational projects for the benefit of the Guggenheim Constellation and the creative economy of the Basque Country. 

 

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Propósito

Purpose

This Purpose seeks to serve as an inspiration and to align all interest groups, seizing the unity that exists around the Museum’s relevance and the pride involved in belonging, contributing, or relating to the Museum or simply visiting it. Furthermore, the purpose of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is formulated as follows:

To inspire and open up new perspectives through art and its values.

Valores

Values

In line with preceding Strategic Plans, the Museum upholds certain values that make up its corporate philosophy, the spirit with which the Mission is pursued, the principles governing all actions.

Sensitivity and respect for art

We work with artistic sensitivity, and respect for the work of art governs our action

As we undertake our activity, we are fully aware that the object we work with has a value that far exceeds its mere material worth. Preserving artwork is important, but if we are to give it its due, we must be able to appreciate it as an expression of the human condition. This is the assumption underlying all our activity and while business criteria are applied in our management plans, we never lose sight of the fact that what we are dealing with is part of the world’s heritage and is invested with an intangible value that commands enormous respect.

Integration with the art community

We contribute to the enrichment of artistic and cultural activity in the Basque Country within the framework of the cultural strategies of its Institutions

The Museum does not seek to be the center of all the artistic activity taking place in the community, but wishes to serve as a stimulus and a meeting place that integrates other cultural institutions and renowned artists, gallery owners, projects, and initiatives. Together, they contribute as far as possible to the diversity and activity of the local art world.

Commitment to quality

The success of the Museum involves managerial excellence; this demands quality work

One of the Museum’s main objectives has always been to further continuous improvement, a policy which led to the implementation of the EFQM management model.

Customer orientation

Satisfied customers are our only guarantee of a successful future. Thus our priority is to gear our work towards satisfying our clients in all their diversity

Customers change and have changing needs. Our best option for ensuring a high degree of customer satisfaction is to identify their expectations and do our best to meet them. A happy client is a secure investment.

Educational orientation

Facilitating the public’s acquaintance with culture and especially with modern and contemporary art is our prime commitment

Each new exhibition demands from the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao a review of the educational approach. The Museum clearly sees itself as an educational institution, and therefore each project requires a rethinking of the technique, material, and atmosphere required to make it an informal, interdisciplinary, and highly interactive educational experience. Museum education today is moving away from academic rigidity and instead seeks to convey information in a way that will broaden people’s humanistic outlook and enrich their understanding and experience.

Economic orientation

Resource management is optimized in our work to ensure the highest possible degree of self-financing for the Museum

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao’s management model lends it a level of autonomy that is reflected in its flexibility and swift response capability. However, the low dependence on government grants requires high efficiency in generating income not only from regular activity, but from the support and backing provided by society and the business world, and from maintaining a high number of customers, this term being understood in its broadest sense.

Integration and cooperation with the Guggenheim Museums

We foster and promote individual and organizational integration with the objectives, culture, and identity of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation

There are a number of circumstances that make this a particularly demanding objective, since working in a Network and sharing a brand form part of our Mission Statement, and convinced as we are of the mutual benefits arising from the synergies generated by multilateral relations.

Commitment to society

The Museum seeks to serve as a symbol of the vitality of the Basque Country and to promote ethical conduct through art

On the subject of culture and economics, the Museum’s well-demonstrated effect as a major factor in revitalizing the economy, regenerating the urban environment, and injecting incentive into society as a whole is especially interesting. Although as a cultural initiative the Museum forms part of comprehensive development plans, one of its fundamental tasks is to serve as an instrument for extending culture and furthering the values of tolerance, open-mindedness, and respect through art.

Confidence in our staff

We encourage participative work based on honesty, trust, integrity, and responsibility, and foster the values of liberty and respect for the individual

Teamwork, a participative management, and self-demanding attitudes are values that have taken strong root in our different work teams. The professional experience of our staff results in efficient proposals and initiatives that are in line with the Museum’s Mission and foster the values that are to govern all our actions. They provide the drive and motivation to ensure fulfilment of the Museum’s commitments.

A family-friendly organization committed to respecting diversity and equal opportunity

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao makes every effort to act in an ethical, socially responsible manner and to promote respect for diversity and equal opportunity, with the goal of facilitating a healthy work-life balance for employees from a gender-conscious perspective.

For this reason, the Museum’s integrated human capital management approach is governed by a policy of equal opportunity for all employees, regardless of their situation, making work-life balance an integral part of its corporate social responsibility strategy in order to offer high-quality, steady employment in a pleasant, stimulating work environment and to promote employer-employee relationships based on the principle of shared responsibility, using flexible, innovative forms of employment to meet the needs and expectations of visitors/customers while also contributing to the self-improvement and advancement of the staff.

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Compromisos Estratégicos

Strategic Commitments

As a new element in its Strategic Plan 2021–2023, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is introducing the definition of Strategic Commitments as a way of progressing in its strategic planning and specifically showing its determination, desire, and need to advance in certain areas that it considers fundamental for the upcoming three years, at the same time as possessing the flexibility to adapt the intensity of work and activity with respect to each of these Commitments by means of its annual plans.

The Strategic Commitments of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao for the 2021–2023 period are the following

1. Commitment to the Museum’s Collection. The Museum commits to draw attention to its Collection by means of its exhibitions and programs as a reflection of its artistic identity and the institutional support received, with the aspiration of continuing to develop the Collection in order to maintain its position as a leading Museum institution.

2. Commitment to inspiring, inclusive, and high-quality art program. The Museum commits to continue to design an inspiring, inclusive, and high-quality artistic program capable of appealing to diverse publics that are both local and international, offering a leading look at the most significant creations of modern and contemporary art.

3. Commitment to education. The Museum commits to guarantee access to its content via the development of new forms of mediation, tools, and activities that address the needs of its visitors and educational groups, encouraging socialization, learning, and creativity.

4. Commitment to the social value of art. The Museum commits to promote the relationship with the artistic community and with local educational and social groups, highlighting initiatives that encourage resiliency and the contribution of art to human well-being in society as a whole.

5. Commitment to financial sustainability. The Museum commits to maintain the solvent and efficient management characteristic of it, creating budgets that allow it to conduct its activities as sustainably as possible at any given time.

6. Environmental commitment. The Museum commits to continue to work to minimize its environmental impact through the development and implementation of sustainable energy solutions and non-polluting processes, and by promoting activities oriented at ecoefficiency.

7. Commitment to digital transformation. The Museum commits to advance along the digital transformation of its processes, offering an integrated technology practice that facilitates the visitors’ experience and access to content and an improved work environment for its teams.

8. Commitment to the territory. The Museum commits to continue to be an element of the revitalization of the territory through the development of its Museum activities with a high quality, added value international approach.

9. Commitment to innovation. The Museum commits to explore and identify innovative practices that provide outstanding value to its activities and which allow it to maintain its levels of quality and excellence.

10. Commitment to governance excellence. The Museum commits to maintain its excellence in transparency, good governance, and ethical management, making progress every day towards a more diverse, inclusive organization, promoting equality and reaffirming its capacity for innovation and continuous improvement in the recognition of people, their talent, and their contribution to the Museum.

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