Bilbao Arte is an incubator for artists located on Urazurrutia Street, in the Old Bilbao-Bilbao la Vieja district. Along with a media library, and an important exhibition hall, there are a dozen studios available to be temporarily ceded to artists, with several workshops for photography, new technologies, engraving and a film studio. A variety of exhibitions by contemporary artists are programmed every year at the Bilbao Arte Centre, as well as numerous conferences, workshops and seminars intended both for artists and for the general public.
The seed for the Bilbao Arte project was planted in 1996. With the Guggenheim Museum yet to be inaugurated, Bilbao City Hall realised that in the field of contemporary art it was necessary to boost not only the city's potential for hosting exhibitions, but also promote its creative potential. The conclusion was that there was a definite need to build centre for creative arts, thereby counterbalancing the city's new identity as a services provider. Instead of beginning a new construction, it was decided that a historic building which had fallen into disuse in the 1980's, the old Urazurrutia School building in the district of Bilbao la Vieja, should be renovated. The school was originally designed in 1902 by the well-known politician and architect Gregorio de IBARRECHE, who chose a Neoclassical style, characteristic of some of his other projects, such as Ibaigane Mansion (1900) or the Bilbao Bonded
Warehouse Building (1917). The adaptation of the requirements of the new creative centre was drawn up by artist Javier RIAÑO, who worked in conjunction with the municipal architects Elias MAS and Blanca BREA on renovation project. Bilbo Arte officially opened its doors in November 1998, with the public enjoying an Open House for the occasion, allowing visitors to freely wander around the whole Centre. Visitors also viewed Begoña ZUBERO's photo exhibit on the ground floor along with a series of video projections by Javier PEREZ on the first floor. Hors d'œuvres were simultaneously served by waiters dressed in the latest creations from fashion designers Miriam OKARIZ, Michel ARIAS, and Elisa AMANN. Needless to say, the artists chosen for that year by the Selection Committee were already working in their respective areas.
Since then, there has been no turning back. Bilbao Arte has been growing, slowly but surely becoming an important reference point for artistic production and exhibitions, not only in Baskland, but also in all of Spain. The most important young Basque artists have created and exhibited in its premises, and its Exhibition Hall has been the scenario for some of the most stimulating exhibits our city has hosted in the last decade.