Former Catalan culture ministers unite to defend Sixena murals stay at MNAC

Nine former Catalan culture ministers have joined forces to advocate for the Sixena Romanesque murals to stay at the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC).

The joint declaration comes just days after a court upheld a ruling to return the murals to the Monastery of Sixena in Aragon, their original location.

In the statement, the ministers emphasized MNAC's crucial role in preserving, restoring, and safeguarding the murals. They warned that the artworks are "extremely fragile" and that attempting to move them could be "extremely dangerous."

"We offer our full support to MNAC as a cultural institution of international standing in the face of a situation that threatens the integrity of its collections and the preservation of the murals themselves," the statement read.

The former ministers concluded that relocating the murals could represent "an irreparable loss" of what they describe as a "masterpiece" of cultural heritage.

They also expressed their willingness to support MNAC and the Catalan government "before the courts and international institutions" if necessary.

The statement was signed by: Àngels Ponsa, Mariàngela Vilallonga, Laura Borràs, Lluís Puig, Santi Vila, Joan Manuel Tresserras, Ferran Mascarell, Caterina Mieras, and Joan Guitart.

Meanwhile, the MNAC Board of Trustees has scheduled a meeting for June 16 to determine the next steps.

Experts and technicians will present their assessments to inform the decision about the best course of action from a conservation standpoint.

The Catalan government has reiterated its commitment to keeping the murals at MNAC, stating that it is working "in body and spirit" to protect the artwork.