MARIA LUCIA ALEMAN CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS ARE UNITING THE REGION MORE
A panel discussion titled "Building Institutional Narratives" was held as part of the FORO initiative during Pinta Panama Art Week. It featured museum directors María Lucía Alemán (MAC Panama), Manuel Segade Lodeiro (Museo Reina Sofía, Spain), and Rafael Tamayo Franco (MAMM, Colombia), moderated by Elena González. The conversation focused on how museums construct their institutional stories and programming to better represent and connect with their local and regional contexts.
The event highlights a critical effort to strengthen Central America's fragmented cultural infrastructure. While Panama's MAC has emerged as a leading, well-structured institution, the broader region lacks strong institutional support for artists. The discussion aimed to foster collaboration, suggesting that regional unity in cultural promotion is essential for gaining international recognition, as major global institutions like the Reina Sofía view Central America as a collective entity rather than individual nations.