Museo Moderno: A Values-driven Model that Positions Art and Artists as Central to Human, Economic, and Democratic Development
How does art lead the way in creating our possible futures? How do the human imagination and the agency and actions of art free the potential for wonder, for hope, optimism and joy, to confront times of agony, trauma and fear? In what ways do artists of all disciplines from around the world dare still to dream of different, alternative futures for humanity, to envision previously unimagined paths forward? How does art furnish humanity with the means to mourn, mitigate, overcome, and bring solace and healing to the world’s deep antagonisms and conflicts?
In this lecture, Museo de Arte Moderno de Buenos Aires Director Victoria Noorthoorn will describe the values-driven transformation of this vibrant museum of modern and contemporary art in Buenos Aires throughout her leadership over the past 12 years. Noorthoorn has persistently worked towards creating a new model for a public museum in Argentina – and in doing so, she has created a new museum model – that positions art and artists as drivers of educational, social, economic, and civic development.
More about
Victoria Noorthoorn
Victoria Noorthoorn is the Director of the Museo de Arte Moderno de Buenos Aires, where she’s served since 2013. She holds a Licentiate in Art History from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA, 1996) and an MA in Curatorial Studies from the Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College, New York (1998). She has acted as Projects Coordinator for the International Program at MoMA, New York; Assistant Curator of Contemporary Exhibitions at The Drawing Center, New York; and Curator at Malba in Buenos Aires. In 2012, she was honored with the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture. During her tenure leading the Moderno, the museum has undergone a deep process of development that has involved doubling its exhibition spaces, presenting +120 exhibitions, publishing +70 bilingual publications, escalating its various education programs to involve +20,000 teachers a year and achieving recognition for its mental health and accessibility programs. Today, Museo Moderno prepares for its 70th Anniversary Program Our Home, The Future to be launched on April 26, 2026.
SUPPORT
Victoria Noorthoorn is the 2026 Visiting Scholar for the U-M Museum Studies Program. Tonight’s lecture is co-presented by MSP and UMMA.