The 2017 visitor total of 635,891 was a 13.95% increase on the number of visitors to the gallery in 2016. The works by Picasso, with new contents and an improved layout as from March 2017, the gallery’s renowned exhibition programme, its interesting cultural events and rigorous educational programme, as well as Málaga’s growing touristic appeal, are all features that are helping to spread the museum’s fine reputation and contribute to the increase in visitor numbers, year after year.

Once again last year, the Museo Picasso Málaga received essential support from its Patron Council member RTVA, as well as from its Patron Members Vocento, Grupo Joly and Fundación Aena. Since the gallery first opened almost 15 years ago, its commitment to art and culture has served to develop an artistic programme that has been the basis for the cultural transformation which has taken place in Málaga over this time. Another important feature in 2017 was Fundación Endesa’s sponsorship of the new and improved lighting for the works by Picasso on display in the Palacio de Buenavista. Alongside their interest in seeing Picasso’s work in the MPM Permanent Collection, many visitors come to the museum to see the temporary exhibitions. There were three of these in 2017: 38 Picassos ; Bacon, Freud and the School of London and We are Completely Free. Woman Artists and Surrealism, which runs until 28th January. For its exhibition programme, the Museo Picasso Málaga worked in close collaboration with other museums, foundations, galleries, and private collections worldwide, including the Fundación Almine y Bernard Ruiz-Picasso (FABA); TATE, United Kingdom; Moderna Museet, Sweden; Centre Pompidou, France; Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico; and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Spain.

Education is a major feature of the Museo Picasso Málaga. Last year, 27,189 people took part in educational projects, including 16,008 schoolchildren and the 1,481 participants in the accessibility project that the gallery runs in collaboration with the “La Caixa” Foundation, which is aimed at people with disabilities and members of socially vulnerable groups. The museum’s educational programme was supported in 2017 by La Noria - Fuente de innovación social; Universidad de Málaga; Dickinson College; Instituto Cervantes; Centro de Profesorado de Málaga; Asociación de Artistas Plásticos de Málaga (APLAMA); the Spanish Red Cross; ONCE; CUDECA, and the Cesare Scariolo Foundation, amongst others. As for cultural activities, a total of 6,106 people attended lectures, seminars, screenings, talks, round table discussions, chamber music, jazz and flamenco concerts, poetry readings and films. The cultural programme was run in collaboration with Centro Andaluz de las Letras; Málaga Spanish Film Festival; the SGAE Foundation; Instituto Andaluz de la Mujer (IAM), and Málaga Philharmonic Orchestra, amongst others.