Zugaza Miranda, Miguel

Miguel Zugaza Miranda (Durango, Biscay, 1964). Bachelor of Arts in History of Art by the Complutense University of Madrid in 1987, he completed the PhD course of the "Foundations of Contemporary Art" programme of the Department of Contemporary Art of the Faculty of Geography and History of the CUM (1988-89).

Between the years 1986 and 1994 he developed his professional activity managing the cultural services company Ikeder, S.L., part of a pioneering business project in private cultural management. Worth highlighting are his activity in assistance for Museums, the organisation of exhibitions and the development of public and private collection cataloguing and documentation work.

From 1994 to 1996 he held the position of Deputy General Director at the Queen Sofía Museum (M.N.C.A.R.S.) of Madrid, actively participating in the remodelling project for the Museum's permanent exhibition and in the temporary exhibition programme.

Between 1996 and 2002 he was the Director of the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum. During this time he developed an ambitious plan to modernise the Museum, both its installations and its management model, as well as proposing a schedule of high quality exhibitions with a far-reaching impact. Among the exhibitions scheduled and produced by the Museum during these years were: Sorolla & Zuloaga, The Spanish Still Life, Zurbarán, The Late Works, Painting Laid Bare or Women Impressionists.

He has taken part in many Juries and Awards and Tribunals of research grants. Likewise, he has curated several exhibitions and has collaborated with many journals and newspapers.

From January 18th, 2002 to March 2017 he was Director of the Prado Museum in Madrid. From March 20th, 2017 he holds the position of Director of Bilbao Museum of Fine Arts.

On 26th April 2005 he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic with the rank of Cavaliere Ufficiale.

On 13th June 2006, at the proposal of the President of the French Republic, he was made a Knight of the National Order of Merit.

On 19th April 2011 he was made Consul of Bilbao at the proposal of the Chamber of Commerce of Bilbao.

On 26th April 2012 the Region of Madrid awarded him the Great Cross of the Order of the Second of May.