In an interview for Artishock Revista's series on museum directors in Latin America, Juan Canela, chief curator of the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Panamá (MAC Panamá), discusses the urgent need for museums to take clear political and ethical stances through their programming. He argues that in a time of fascist resurgence, war, genocide, and the collapse of Western extractivist and colonial systems, museums must become spaces of resistance, critical thought, and collective imagination. Canela emphasizes that museums should not rely solely on social media statements but must embed their positions in exhibitions and activities that denounce injustice, defend human rights, and foster affective refuge.
This interview matters because it reflects a growing debate within the Latin American museum field about the role of cultural institutions amid political and social crises. Canela's call for museums to preserve artistic complexity rather than simplify discourse for broader audiences challenges prevailing trends toward accessibility and algorithmic engagement. His perspective positions the museum as a site for slow, deep, and community-oriented thinking, offering a model for how contemporary art spaces can remain relevant and ethically grounded in turbulent times.