The decision to create the museum occurred in 1983, and was organized in 1984, but at the time it was housed in the
Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon and was named Musée Saint-Pierre art contemporain. In 1988, it officially received the status of contemporary art museum granted by the Direction des Musées de France. In 1995, it moved to the 6th arrondissement in a building designed by Renzo Piano. It was inaugurated on 19 December of the same year, and welcomed nearly 130,000 visitors during the two months of the 3rd Biennial of Lyon. The building has both a 1930s, facade and a modern brick volume. It has two side entrances and a 2700 sq.m. area. It has organized over a hundred exhibitions. The museum has now become the symbol of "an open city and an uninhibited art". According to director Thierry Raspail, its funding is mainly directed by the city of Lyon, and 5% by the State. On March 30, 2018, Thierry Raspail, director of macLYON since its creation in 1984, and co-founder of the Biennale de Lyon, announced his departure from the museum. After having been in charge of exhibitions at the macLYON for almost 15 years,
Isabelle Bertolotti took over the management of the museum, accompanied by Julien Nemoz as administrator. ==Exhibitions==