Kaixo everyone! Today I sit at my sit spot and the reality that the program is ending dawn on me, the mixed emotions are real, and no one could have prepared me for these feelings. On one hand, I am here taking a break from my final project which I want to finish desperately. On the other, I can’t fathom not living in Bilbao anymore. Regardless of how much I want to finish my project, I will say I have found the topic incredibly interesting. I have been looking at the economic impact of the Guggenheim Effect. You might be wondering what this is. Let me explain.
As I have mentioned in previous posts, Bilbao used to be a city that became very prominent in the early XXth century thanks to its vast supply of iron ore which lead the city to become a busy industrial port. As the industrial success declined, the city was left grey and polluted. The government sought to shift their strategic planning and found an answer in the Guggenheim foundation who were looking to build a museum abroad. The museum has been incredibly successful, and it is credited to bringing over one million visitors into the city each year and billions of dollars in its creation. The museum was accompanied by the renovation of the airport, the creation of a new metro system, and numerous of green area construction. As such, this has helped shift the city from grey industrial to a green seeming utopia.
Another result has been in the city being depicted in Bilbao through art. For example, the museum’s “The Matter of Time” exhibit by Richard Serra features large-scale, steel sculptures that create a sense of movement and energy, reminiscent of natural elements like wind and water. In addition to the Guggenheim, Bilbao is home to numerous art galleries and public art installations that feature nature as a central theme. For example, the “Tree of Life” sculpture by Eduardo Chillida, located in the heart of the city, represents the interconnectedness of all living things and the importance of nature in our lives. Music is another area in which Bilbao’s connection to nature is evident. The city is home to numerous music festivals that celebrate nature and the environment, such as the Bilbao BBK Live festival, which takes place in a natural park and features live music performances in a beautiful outdoor setting.
To me, it is crazy to think how much a city can change in our lifetime. From an industrial uninviting city to a must-go travel destination the city also appeared on several of my travels in advertisements abroad—the first time being in the metro in Milan. In that sense, Bilbao’s representation in the media has been very accurate and I hope that its tourism keeps evolving so that even more people can visit this incredible place. Maybe one day you can come too!
Until then, talk to you in the next post!
