The Ministry of Culture will cede two spaces of the Tabacalera complex of Madrid for use by the collective Remonta Tabacalera and other neighborhood associations

• These are two buildings that are part of the Tabacalera complex, which will be available this year, while the works of integral rehabilitation of the main building are being undertaken
• In the agreement, both parties commit to the two spaces being destined for cultural and community activities for the neighborhood of Lavapiés
• This assignment is the result of months of work between the Ministry of Culture and the Remonta Tabacalera Collective, formed by associations such as CSA Tabacalera, 8M Lavapiés and the Union of Tenants of Madrid

The Tabacalera complex in Madrid will once again host the neighborhood and associative fabric of Lavapiés at the end of 2026. This has been agreed by the Ministry of Culture, owner of the property, and representatives of the collective Remonta Tabacalera, after months of joint work.

It is expected that two buildings, annexed to the main building, will be available in the last quarter of this year after the rehabilitation works that will be carried out by the Ministry of Culture, in charge of its budget.

These are two ships within the Tabacalera complex, which will be rehabilitated integrally to ensure their suitability for use and which comply with all security guarantees. They occupy a space attached to the main building, and consist of 512 and 288 square meters respectively.

The formal transfer will be made to the CSA La Tabacalera, according to the collectives and associations that are part of the collective Remonta Tabacalera, among which are the CSA itself and other entities such as the Union of Tenants of Madrid, 8M Lavapiés, the Office of social urbanism or Red Interlavapiés.

According to both parties, these spaces will be self-managed by the CSA La Tabacalera, in collaboration with neighborhood associations in the neighborhood of Lavapiés. With this commitment, a fundamental space for community and cultural use is recovered in the center of the city of Madrid, prioritizing the social function and opening to the public of this endowment.

The complex of Tabacalera

Located in Madrid’s 53rd street, Ambassadors Street, the Tabacalera complex is made up of various buildings, covering an area of more than 21,000 square meters.

Tabacalera is located in the Old Tobacco Factory of Madrid, whose construction took place between 1780 and 1792. It was used as a tobacco factory until the end of the 20th century.

Attached to the Ministry of Culture since 2003, that same year it opens to the public as a space focused on the exhibition and programming of activities. Between 2010 and 2021 it develops a permanent program of temporary exhibitions and activities around photography, contemporary art and the visual arts.

Currently, the Tabacalera complex is in the process of architectural rehabilitation and integral reform of the facilities to adapt the building to its future use as a production center and artistic residences, in line with other long-standing international centers.

This is why, in March 2025, the Center for Production and Artistic Residences of Tabacalera was created by Royal Decree. This future Tobacco Center is a strategic project of the Ministry of Culture and is aimed at reactivating the creative fabric, promoting a space for artistic research and exchange of experiences between artists, in collaboration also with the autonomous communities. The project also aims to be an institution open to the neighborhood of Lavapiés (Madrid), where it is located.