Devoted to contemporary art, this museum was opened in December 1999 and is located on the campus of the University of Alicante in the nearby town of San Vicente del Raspeig. It is the only museum as such to be housed on a university campus.

The main aim of the MUA is not to house exhibitions. Instead, it is a space for fostering and sharing culture, bringing together art, music, theatre, cinema, photography, archaeology and research.

The fundamental pillars of MUA activity consist of promoting historic and artistic heritage, presenting the results of research on campus and championing the artistic creations of the 21st century, with place of honour reserved for the latest trends and the most avant-garde proposals.