Thyssen Museum Secures 10-Year Node Deal with Auto-Renewal

Andorra Telecom's deputy general director, Cèsar Marquina, has indicated that the initial 10-year term of the agreement for the Thyssen museum's new premises at the Node complex will automatically extend in two-year periods if needed. The deal, published yesterday in the BOPA, involves Andorra Telecom, the government, and Museand—the legal entity overseeing the Thyssen—ceding the basement of the Node's North block, facing Avinguda Meritxell, for the museum's use.

Construction on the North block, where the museum will be housed, is progressing more slowly than on the South building due to its complexity. The South structure should finish by mid-year as planned, while North block works will extend into the second half but remain on track for completion by year-end, according to Marquina. However, the agreement takes a cautious stance, stating Museand cannot occupy the space until Node building works conclude and the Digital Arts Centre becomes operational, scheduled for 1 January 2027. This points to an 11-month wait from now before the museum opens at this central site, formerly Andorra Telecom's historic headquarters.

The new venue triples the previous 961 square metres at the Valira location over the past nine years, spread across two basement levels. The first will house general services and an analogue exhibition hall displaying 40 to 50 works from Baroness Thyssen's permanent collection, emphasising 20th- and 21st-century art with a focus on Catalan modernism. The second level will form the core Digital Arts Centre, designed for innovative cultural exhibitions, immersive and interactive experiences. Andorra Telecom is funding all construction and fitting-out costs, with Museand repaying the full amount over 10 years at a monthly rate of €31,133 to €40,065—totalling €3.7 million to €4.8 million. This technically avoids a rental arrangement, prohibited for the state-owned firm. Additional terms include 100 annual tickets for Andorra Telecom and 10 days' yearly access to the immersive room.

The immersive space features two large halls of 300 and 280 square metres on the second basement, plus a 200-square-metre room on the first. Repayments will nearly consume the government's €450,000 annual grant to the museum, leaving ticket sales to bridge the gap. Past Valira exhibitions averaged 13,600 visitors yearly, peaking at 18,000 in the first year since 2017. Node projections aim far higher, between 50,000 and 140,000 annually, drawing comparisons to Cirque du Soleil's 64,000 last edition and the 25,000 expected for Van Gogh Alive by 6 April.

Thyssen curator Guillermo Cervera noted that digital exhibitions will be custom-made for export to other venues, while the analogue space will mix permanent works with invited pieces, including Spanish paintings never shown abroad. The goal is to give Andorra's Thyssen a distinct identity amid franchises in Madrid, Málaga, Sant Feliu, and soon Barcelona. The prime commercial location is expected to boost attendance.