The International Council of Museums (ICOM) recognized in the Shanghai Charter of 2002 that there were museums which collected and protected the Human Intangible Heritage and not only the objects which Humanity had produced throughout its existence. The previous year, the Diputació de València, had inaugurated the Valencian Museum of the Enlightenment and Modernity (MuVIM): a museum focused on preserving and spreading the ideas and values which had made the modern world possible, starting by that genuine revolution of mind which meant- in the XVII and XVIII centuries- the intellectual and political movement that we know today as Enlightenment.

Ideas have the power to change the world, given their great capacity to move people to act or react against situations they consider intolerable

Since its birth, the MuVIM has been conceived as a museum of the ideas. However, this does not mean it to be a museum exclusively devoted to preserving and promoting intangible heritage in a strict sense. As for ideas- as the philosopher Isaiah Berlin said- are extremely powerful. Ideas have the power to change the world, given their great capacity to move people to act or react against situations they consider intolerable. Social, economic and political changes which made possible the transition from the medieval world, theocentric and feudal, to the modern world-our world- cannot only be explained by changes in material conditions of life. The MuVIM’s permanent exhibition – « The Adventure of Thought » - is entirely devoted to explaining those ideas which not only changed the world, but also our way of seeing and living life.

The exhibition provides not only an intellectual experience but also a sensorial and emotional one 

«The Adventure of Thought» is an exhibition without objects or written explanations, led through new information technologies. A surprising gamble on museum practice and communication to explain the way in which the Western society has evolved from the Middle Ages to nowadays. The exhibition provides not only an intellectual experience but also a sensorial and emotional one which you will enjoy as you learn and understand as you enjoy it. The visit can be followed in four languages: Valencian, Spanish, English and French.

Besides this permanent exhibition, the interest scope of the museum allows it to broach- together with temporary exhibitions- the improvements and problems of the contemporary world by means of every artistic or intellectual manifestation in which 21st century individuals, who live in an economically globalized and culturally interconnected world, express themselves.

Apart from this museographic project, the MuVIM provides a wide complementary programme including lectures and seminars, musical performances, cinema series, workshops both for children and adults and much more. Every activity as well as the Permanent Exhibition are of free admission. Furthermore, a three-dimensional model of the city of Valencia can be found in the Museum Hall just as Priest Tosca drew it. As well as that, in the basement of the museum, visitors will find the archaeological remains of a medieval tower.

A different museum which will not make anyone feel indifferent

MuVIM activities and exhibitions always offer an added value: they are a little bit more than a simple collection of items. Quite the opposite, items exhibited are useful to express ideas. Ideas that try to make visitors reflect, move them to discussion and even give rise to doubts. Doubts that can help us to better understand the world around us in a critical and non-conforming way.

Because the MuVIM is, ultimately, a different museum which will not make anyone feel indifferent.