This summer, the Archaeological Museum of Alicante has experienced a few months of intense activity at a hectic pace. We opened our summer opening hours on 16 June and since that day, as could not be otherwise, the inauguration of Luz de Roma at Vilamuseu, the presentation of Rupestre to the press at the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid, the inauguration of this extraordinary exhibition at the MARQ, the Summer at the MARQ campaign, the White Night of the Museums, the return to the MARQ Palace and the book commemorating the 85/15th Anniversary... Thirteen weeks of experiences that the MARQ, the museum of all the people of Alicante, has wanted to share with its visitors because they are its raison d'être.
The youngest friends of MARQ, once again this year, have been the architects of the good atmosphere that has flooded the halls of the museum. More than 1,800 schoolchildren took part in the Summer at MARQ campaign, which broke its own record for the number of students registered. No less than 45 pupils on average per day over the 40 days that this great educational project has lasted. In this, its fourteenth edition, the theme of the activities was mainly centred on the temporary exhibition Rupestrian, the First Sanctuaries. In addition to the usual games, gymkhanas, competitions and visits to rooms, the educational workshops were mainly related to prehistory. Among other things, the children made arrowheads, a quiver, incised furniture art, parietal art, prehistoric brushes... and most of the objects and reproductions they made could be taken home at the end of the week. And of course, also their participant's diploma and their backpack as a gift. One of the most rewarding new experiences was the excursion to the MACA (Museum of Contemporary Art of Alicante), with an exchange of students and activities. A success thanks to the work and collaboration of all the Didactics team and MACA staff.
The summer season has brought locals and tourists alike to the MARQ, a veritable oasis in the hot Costa Blanca summer, to enjoy the tranquillity of its halls, and especially our spectacular temporary exhibition: Rupestrian. The First Sanctuaries. A fascinating itinerary that takes us from the Altamira Cave, a universal reference of Palaeolithic art, to contemporary art represented by the Mallorcan artist Miquel Barceló, passing through the macro-schematic art of the Sanctuary of Pla de Petracos. A walk through our inland valleys that allows us to delve into more than four decades of research in Alicante and in the rock art of our province; an exhaustive scientific work that was recognised in 1998, the year in which UNESCO included it within the Cave Art of the Mediterranean Arc of the Iberian Peninsula, in its prestigious list of World Heritage of Humanity.. From mid-June Until 15 September, nearly 35,000 people have visited the exhibition on the art of the first settlers. Most of the visitors came from the province of Alicante, followed by people from Madrid, Murcia and Valencia. As far as foreign tourists are concerned, there was a large influx of English tourists, but also citizens from Eastern European countries, the French and the Nordic countries.
Rock Art. The First Sanctuaries is the most important exhibition of rock art ever shown in our country and will be at MARQ until 5 January 2019. More information www.marqalicante.com
