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Inauguration of the Museum of Modern Art on 14 February

14 February 1998 will see the inauguration of the new Museum of Modern Art on the island of Skeppsholmen in the heart of Stockholm. The stylish building designed by Spanish architect Rafael Moneo will also house the new Swedish Museum of Architecture. Spanning a total of 20,000 square metres, the building has been divided into a number of different sized galleries which are linked by a long passageway. This means that the museum can finally bring its entire art collection under one roof. More than 30,000 graphics and drawings from throughout the 20th century will also be transferred from the National Museum of Art, opening up a whole new area for the Museum of Modern Art.

The first exhibition, "WOUNDS: Between Democracy and Redemption in Contemporary Art", runs from 14 February to 19 April and reflects developments in art from 1960 to the present day.

The late spring will see a Joan Mir� exhibition opening on 16 May. This will be the first time most of Mir�'s paintings, sculptures and drawings have been exhibited in Sweden. The exhibition draws on the extremely valuable works held by some of the leading museums in the US and Europe, including the Mir� Museum in Barcelona.

Stockholm's year as Cultural Capital also marks the 40th anniversary of the Museum of Modern Art and Brian Elliott, the new curator, believes that the museum will prove a major attraction, bringing in 300,000 or more visitors.

Call +46 8 666 42 50 for more information on the Museum of Modern Art or +46 8 587 270 00 for the Swedish Museum of Architecture.