Museo Nacional de Artes Escénicas (MNAE)

The Museo Nacional de Artes Escénicas (MNAE) is a state-owned museum of national category, with headquarters in the Palacio de los Maestres de Calatrava, in Almagro (Ciudad Real), at the coordinates indicated above. Its current name was created by Royal Decree in 2024 as heir to the former National Theater Museum, an institution that has been in existence for over a century. Its origin dates back to 1919, when Luis París, director of the Teatro Real, together with Antonio Flórez, proposed the creation of a museum-archive to preserve and inventory the artistic material generated by theatrical productions. The evolution of the center explains its conceptual expansion towards the performing arts as a whole, beyond the theater. The museum opened its new headquarters to the public in 2025 after a comprehensive renovation and expansion of the building, attached to INAEM and the Ministry of Culture. Its collection exceeds 17,500 pieces and includes funds related to theater, dance, music and circus, with an important documentary and artistic value. The building occupies an area of 2,213.68 square meters, distributed over several floors with exhibition halls, library, storerooms, offices and tower, and incorporates a Mudejar cloister for temporary exhibitions and other activities. This heritage element is one of the most outstanding architectural features of the complex.