The Erotic Museum of Barcelona establishes itself as a world-renowned private museum

The Erotic Museum of Barcelona (EMB) was established in 2024 as one of the main cultural references in the city, standing out among the most innovative privately managed museums in Barcelona. Under the direction of Sarah Rippert, the EMB has experienced significant growth and has positioned itself as one of the must-see attractions in Barcelona.

"The EMB is proof that independent management can be synonymous with innovation and quality," says Rippert, who ensures that the institution has doubled its income compared to 2019, reaching 110,000 visitors in 2024. With a management model that combines economic sustainability with a clear cultural and educational mission, the EMB reaffirms itself as an essential attraction for both locals and international visitors.

"The EMB is not only the most erotic place in the city, but also a cultural icon that continues to attract audiences from around the world, reaffirming its role as one of the major references in art, history, and sexual education," says Rippert.

The Museum in figures

The Erotic Museum of Barcelona (EMB) is the only museum in the country dedicated to Erotic Art. Although the profile of its visitors remains predominantly international, with Italians (26%), English (21%), and French (19%) being the most frequent, this year, the number of national and local visitors has increased by 15% thanks to improvements in the general exhibition, the program "Art and Sexology" aimed at the local community, and live erotic dance and shibari shows that Rippert has introduced for fun and entertainment in a cultural setting.

International Awards

Last summer, the EMB was again awarded the prestigious 2024 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice award, placing it among the top 10% of the best activities globally. According to John Boris, Director of Growth at Tripadvisor, this award reflects the museum's ability to offer memorable experiences that inspire visitors to share positive opinions. This award added to other recognitions, such as its inclusion among the 20 Best Museums in Spain by Travel Lemming in 2023. "Being included among travelers' favorites once again is a real honor and proof that we are doing a good job," stated Rippert at that time.

Museum Mission

As a private museum, the EMB has shown an exceptional commitment to the museum's function, promoting innovative projects that combine art, history, and education.

"Highlights include the expansion of the exhibition space by 30 m², the complete renovation of six key rooms, and the addition of two new thematic rooms, one dedicated to Sex in Medieval Europe and the Catalan Kamasutra, and another focused on diversity and the LGTBIQ+ universe," explains Sarah Rippert. "This year, we have also increased the value of our artistic heritage by adding significant works to the collection such as an engraving by Dalí and lithographs by Pablo Picasso," says Rippert. "Unlike other private museums, the EMB has a mission; not only do we acquire, but we also preserve and study," adds the director.

Along these lines, Rippert launched the didactic area of the institution last year by incorporating a renowned sexology professional, Sigrid Cervera. Sexologist and expert in erotic art, who has developed the project "Art and Sexology" specifically for the EMB. The flagship project of the EMB is based on sexual education and combines erotic art and sexology in a unique way on an international level.

"It is part of our mission to disseminate the history of erotic art, the culture of eroticism, as a material and immaterial heritage of humanity," states Sigrid Cervera. From the educational area, Cervera manages various activities, workshop cycles, talks, and guided tours that are part of the project aimed specifically at the local community. "Activities like Discovering Erotic Barcelona bring visitors closer to the history of erotic art in the city, while also creating spaces for reflecting on human sexuality," says the sexologist. "With this project, we aim to explain eroticism in art, creating a narrative that connects all the exhibited works and allows for various lines of study," adds Cervera. The educational area also organizes sexological training, conferences, and book presentations, among others.