History · NEWART Foundation

Over twenty years connecting art, science and technology.

Art, science and technology

NEWART Foundation is based in Reus, Catalonia. Its ambition is to help the artistic community develop new technological, scientific, conceptual and social practices.

The Foundation promotes art at its intersections with — and challenges to — science and technology as a strategy for social development and empowerment. It acts not only as a witness, but as an active participant. One of its main challenges is developing, conserving and preserving an artistic legacy connected with science and technology through the NEWART Collection.

NEWART Foundation is recognised not only for what it collects, but also for how it does so. It has developed a new approach to collecting, supporting programmes for the production, conservation and patronage of technological art and encouraging debate about the introduction of new technologies into art. The collection goes beyond buying artworks on the market: it is known for its collaborative programmes and open production calls with other organisations and institutions. Under the patronage of the Rodríguez-Veyrat family, this collection of electronic and digital artworks has grown to become one of the most significant in the world.

NEWART Foundation and {collection;} are active members of Catalonia’s vibrant ecosystem. They are co-founders of HacTe, Barcelona’s art, science and technology hub. Led by major Catalan institutions, the hub aims to make Barcelona a global centre for research, training, knowledge transfer, dissemination and production in this field.

Through collaboration with Catalan institutions and organisations, NEWART Foundation and {collection;} have expanded their international reach. Long-term programmes with centres such as V2_ in Rotterdam and Ars Electronica in Linz, together with their artwork loan programme, have enabled collaborations with leading Spanish and European institutions. With HacTe, a member of the New European Bauhaus, they strengthen Catalan culture and its ecosystem as a focus for innovation and creation in Europe.

NEWART Foundation aims to provide the technological art community with a broad range of services and expertise, developing sustainable production methodologies that ensure the preservation of this legacy for future generations.

The origins of the collection

The NEWART Collection, formerly known as the Beep Collection of Electronic Art, began in 2003. It grew from the shared interests of artist Marie-France Veyrat and technology pioneer Andreu Rodríguez Valveny, and their friendship with Arnau Puig, co-founder of Dau al Set, who proposed holding the BEEP Art and Technology Award in Barcelona.

This first project gained new momentum in 2006 with the creation of the ARCO-BEEP Electronic Art Awards, in collaboration with the international ARCO art fair. Beyond the awards themselves, their organisation led to a key development for NEWART Foundation: Vicente Matallana joined the team. A pioneer of technological art, he has been involved in practically every major event in the field in Spain through LaAgencia, the company he founded in 1998.

A legacy at the service of society

That meeting led to a close collaboration which, over more than twenty years, has created a collection of nearly two hundred works, now considered an international reference in technological art.

In 2013, the project took another step with the creation of NEWART Foundation. Together with the Official College of Computer Engineering of Catalonia (COEINF), the Catalan Association of Telecommunications Engineers (ACET), the College of Industrial Engineers of Catalonia, the support of the Open University of Catalonia and a number of prominent Catalan companies and professionals, it established a foundation dedicated to placing this heritage and knowledge at the service of society.

After more than twenty years of activity, and having become a key participant in both the Catalan and international scenes through collaboration in leading events and initiatives, NEWART Foundation and NEWART Collection have taken what they see as the next major step for the cultural ecosystem and society.

This reflection led to the creation of a 3,000 m² space in Reus dedicated to the creation, production, conservation, preservation and dissemination of an artistic legacy connected with science and technology, ensuring its transmission to future generations.