The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao brings in ten times more money to the region than the public grants the museum receives, writes Le Monde. Since its opening in 1996, the museum is said to have brought in approximately 87 billion kronor to the region, which has been referred to as the "Bilbao effect".
The museum is located in a landmark building designed by architect Frank Gehry, but having only a striking museum building is not enough, emphasizes museum director Juan Ignacio Vidarte.
Architecture is an important part of the equation, but it must serve the museum, otherwise you won't succeed, he says to Le Monde.
According to Juan Ignacio Vidarte, politicians often believe that all they need to do is contact the right architect, but if the museum's content and activities are not developed and refined, the project will fail, he warns.
