Indagación preliminar sobre departamentos de educación: el caso del Patio Herreriano y del Museo Ralli Marbella

This article examines the institutional framework of the educational and cultural action departments of two modern and contemporary art museums in Spain: the Museo Patio Herreriano (Valladolid) and the Museo Ralli Marbella (Málaga). Their situation is constantly evolving, and in recent years the outsourcing of these services to private companies has become increasingly widespread. The principal aim of this study is to conduct a preliminary exploration of the current shortcomings of museum education departments, in relation to their structural situation and museological perspective. To this end, a theoretical framework of the national context underpinning the research is established, and two representative case studies of contemporary art museums in Spain are compared through the interview method. Analysing the gaps, weaknesses, potentialities, and needs of educational departments is essential for understanding their current state and proposing improvements that dignify the profession and foster more inclusive and socially engaged institutions. Among the main conclusions of this study are the need to employ a greater number of professionals within educational departments, the lack of consensus regarding the primary functions of the educational role, the importance of increased collaboration with external entities, and the necessity of enhancing the profession to overcome precarious working conditions and promote more inclusive museums.