International Centre of Graphic Arts

What International Centre of Graphic Arts does

MGLC (Mednarodni grafični likovni center / International Centre of Graphic Arts) is a cultural institution founded in 1986 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, dedicated to the production, presentation, documentation, and collection of contemporary graphic arts. It operates across three venues — Grad Tivoli, Švicarija, and Plečnikov avditorij — and is the organizer of the Ljubljana Biennale of Graphic Arts, one of the longest-running contemporary printmaking biennials globally, now in its 37th edition under curator José Roca.

The institution's core activities include curating and producing exhibitions, running artist-in-residence and critic-in-residence programs, publishing catalogues and educational materials, and participating in international exchange initiatives such as the SAIR inter-residency project. It also hosts external cultural events in its venues and operates a merchandise-oriented online shop. Institutional partners include the City of Ljubljana, the Slovenian Ministry of Culture, and UNESCO's Creative Cities Network.

MGLC generates revenue through a hybrid public-sector/earned-income model. Earned streams consist of admissions (€8 per adult visit), online shop sales of graphic arts merchandise, and venue rentals. The institution is sustained primarily by public grants from the City of Ljubljana and the Ministry of Culture, supplemented by project-based cultural funding. It operates with a small core team of 11 employees, serving general visitors, school and family audiences, contemporary art professionals, and international artist and curator networks.

Name

International Centre of Graphic Arts

Legal name

MGLC - International Centre of Graphic Arts

Website

https://mglc-lj.si

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MGLC is a Ljubljana-based cultural institution founded in 1986 that operates three venues and organizes the Ljubljana Biennale of Graphic Arts. It serves artists, visitors, and international curators through exhibitions, residencies, and a merchandise shop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ljubljana

HQ country

Slovenia

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission fees: Revenue from visitor admissions to exhibitions and events at the center's venues
2. Online shop sales: Sales of merchandise, prints, and cultural products through the MGLC online store
3. Venue rentals: Revenue from renting premises and facilities to external parties for events and activities

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MGLC (Mednarodni grafični likovni center / International Centre of Graphic Arts) is a non-profit cultural institution in Ljubljana, Slovenia that operates multiple exhibition venues dedicated to contemporary graphic arts and printmaking. It hosts rotating exhibitions, the international Ljubljana Biennale of Graphic Arts, professional printmaking studio facilities, artist residencies, educational programs segmented by audience, and a curated collection with a specialized library. The institution sells merchandise through an online shop and rents venues for external events.

Product overview

MGLC (International Centre of Graphic Arts) is a cultural institution operating as a unified venue complex with multiple service offerings. The institution manages three physical locations (Grad Tivoli, Švicarija, and Plečnikov avditorij) and serves as the host organization for the Ljubljana Biennale of Graphic Arts. Its core services include The Print Studio (professional printmaking facilities), The Collections (curated archives), an In-house Library (specialized research resources), and Residencies (artist and critic programs). Public-facing offerings include rotating Exhibitions, Events programming, Education Programs organized by audience segment (school groups, children/families, youth, adults), and an Online Shop for merchandise and publications. The institution operates bienale.si as the archive platform for the Ljubljana Biennale of Graphic Arts, positioning itself as a central hub for contemporary graphic arts in Slovenia and internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of LjubljanacoreOthersThe City of Ljubljana is a key institutional partner providing municipal support and recognition as a cultural institution. Ljubljana is also designated as a European Green Capital.
• Ministry of Culture of the Republic of SloveniacoreOthersThe Ministry of Culture provides governmental funding and institutional support for cultural activities and programs at MGLC.
• Ljubljana - European Green CapitalminorOthersPartnership recognizing Ljubljana's status as a European Green Capital, with MGLC participating in environmental and sustainability initiatives.
• Ljubljana - City of LiteratureminorOthersPartnership within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, linking literary and visual arts communities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Print Triennial Society (Krakow): Operates the International Print Triennial in Krakow, one of the oldest and most prestigious international printmaking exhibitions in the world. Directly comparable to MGLC as a peer institution hosting periodic international printmaking events, with analogous curatorial and educational missions in graphic arts.
• London Print Studio: A non-profit fine art printmaking workshop and gallery offering open-access studio facilities, residencies, exhibitions, and education. Directly parallel to MGLC in mission and operational model, providing a useful UK benchmark.
• Edinburgh Printmakers: An independent artist-run print studio and gallery in Scotland offering residencies, education, and exhibitions in contemporary printmaking. Closely matches MGLC's combined print studio, residency, and exhibition model on a similar operational scale.

Regional players

• Museum der Bildenden Künste Leipzig: A fine arts museum in Leipzig with a strong graphic arts collection and active contemporary exhibition program. Comparable to MGLC in its printmaking focus and exhibition-driven mission, though primarily serving a German rather than Slovenian audience.

Broad incumbents

• Stiftung Insel Hombroich / Raketenstation Hombroich: A cultural foundation combining artist residencies, exhibition spaces, and permanent installations across multiple venues. Comparable to MGLC's multi-venue operational model with strong residency and site-specific programming elements.
• Kunsthalle Wien: Vienna's contemporary art exhibition hall presenting international exhibitions and educational programming. Comparable to MGLC's exhibition, residency, and education programming, but on a broader contemporary art mandate in a much larger city.
• Graphische Sammlung ETH Zürich: ETH Zürich's graphic arts collection and exhibition program, focused on printmaking, drawing, and graphic design history. Comparable to MGLC's collections function and exhibition programming, though embedded in a major technical university.
• Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain (Strasbourg): A major European museum with a significant collection of modern and contemporary prints and graphic arts. Comparable to MGLC in its focus on printmaking and graphic arts collections, though on a much larger scale and broader curatorial scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mglc_ljubljana
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9wP-7Y0cSDU3uLzhouNyZA
• Facebookfacebook.com/mglc.ljubljana
• Instagraminstagram.com/mglcljubljana
• TikToktiktok.com/@mglcljubljana
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mglc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Centre of Graphic Arts