The Museum of Science and Technology of Catalonia (mNACTEC) received 104,403 visitors in 2015 at its headquarters in Terrassa, a figure representing an increase of 15% compared with the figure recorded the previous year, and the highest in the Museum's 31 years of history.
This increase in visitor numbers is the result of a growing public interest in the new activities and exhibitions staged, more school visits and greater and more extensive participation in family and weekend activities. Of the more than 100,000 visitors recorded at the Terrassa site, 52% are individuals, 46% on school trips, and the remaining 2% are groups of visitors.
The overall number visiting the three mNACTEC sites (Asland Cement Museum in Castellar de n'Hug, Museum of the Sedó Colony in Esparreguera and the Palau Forge in Ripoll) adds up to more than 116,590 people.
Overall, the museums belonging to the Territorial Structure of the mNACTEC, comprising 26 sites all round Catalonia explaining a particular theme or the industrialisation of a specific part of the Catalan landscape, received 501,400 visits in 2015.
2015: A year of new projects
With the aim of raising the Museum's profile, opening it up to the city of Terrassa, establishing itself as a true national landmark, incentivising its approach to a decentralised museum structure throughout the territory, highlighting the country's social industrial heritage and interacting with other cultural forms and models, during 2015 the mNACTEC launched the following projects: the Industrial Heritage Map of Catalonia web portal; the opening of La Fàbrica 1909, serving coffee, wine and snacks; the "Walls of the mNACTEC" project, to showcase and embellish the surrounding streets, along with activities connected with such cultural pursuits as music, film and dance.
In 2015 the mNACTEC opened seven temporary exhibitions, with "A Highway Behind the Plug" produced by the Spanish grid operator Red Eléctrica de España the star of the show, along with many other displays connected with the impact of industrialisation in the country.
During 2015 the mNACTEC also prioritised its role of conservation and restoration of the more than 20,000 objects that belong to its collections. 65 exhibits were acquired and around seventy restored, while two photographic holdings have been digitised, and can now be accessed via the Museum website.
As for educational initiatives, more than 47,587 pupils visited in 2015 from 637 schools, while teacher training courses were organised in the fields of science and technology.
As a national flagship in the scientific, technological and industrial heritage sector, the mNACTEC has underpinned its function of researching and showcasing all its aspects, including academic and educational events, publications and consultancy for other institutions.
Key initiatives for 2016
During the visit the main actions planned by the mNACTEC for this year were likewise revealed, including:
25 February 2016
