The València City Council is working intensively to adapt the Museu de la Ciutat, located in the Palacio del Marqués de Campo, as a temporary venue for the exhibition of the Sorolla collection from the Hispanic Society of America. This decision emerged as an alternative plan due to administrative difficulties and tight deadlines for preparing the old Correos building, initially intended to house a 'Sorolla Museum'.
The Valencian Government and the Mayor's Office of València agreed in January to make the Museu de la Ciutat the temporary home for the artworks. However, the process has taken longer than anticipated. After overcoming an initial appeal, the tender for the project design to adapt the Correos building, valued at nearly two million euros, has been declared void, returning the project to square one.
The plan is for the first batches of over 200 paintings to arrive in València after the summer, with the aim of exhibiting them by the end of the year. Consequently, the Museu de la Ciutat is undergoing accelerated preparation to receive this significant art collection.
One of the first ongoing projects involves conservation and restoration works to address humidity issues in the Palacio del Marqués de Campo. This contract, awarded in March for 350,841 euros to Llop Proyectos Integrales, focuses on replacing the roof of the La Serre hall, reinforcing beams, and consolidating cornices. The work, expected to last until September, was already necessary for the building's preservation and its contents, and now becomes urgent for protecting the future Sorolla artworks.
In parallel, security improvement projects totaling almost 18,000 euros have been awarded, including the renovation of the fire detection system, modernization of the closed-circuit television (CCTV) with intrusion control, and the installation of an autonomous generator. Furthermore, a 231,000 euro contract to enhance the fire suppression system in six of the museum's storage areas is pending adjudication, a contract that had previously been declared void.
The security contract for municipal museums, awarded to Prosegur for nearly 3.5 million euros over two years, came into effect shortly after the announcement of the potential temporary venue. These actions are part of the center's new Museological Plan, which aims to reorganize the permanent collection but will now need to adapt to prioritize the reception of the Hispanic Society's holdings.
The management of the Sorolla collection also involves the Valencian Government. The Conselleria de Cultura has delegated responsibilities to the Consorci de Museus de la Comunitat Valenciana (CMCV) to expedite the processes for the transfer, packaging, transport, and insurance of the artworks. The CMCV will coordinate the phased arrival of the works at the Museu de la Ciutat while the future of the Palau de les Comunicacions is resolved.
