The Gustavo Capanema Palace, in the center of Rio de Janeiro (RJ), should be handed over to the population in 2024, after the completion of the renovation started in 2018. The new proposal for occupying the building was presented by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage ( Iphan), this Monday (15), in a meeting with the Minister of Culture, Margareth Menezes. The building will house a set of spaces for exhibitions on topics associated with art and the formation of Brazilian society, from popular culture to Afro-Brazilian manifestations. The site will also house administrative activities of bodies linked to the Ministry of Culture. The president of Iphan, Leandro Grass, spoke about the importance of the place. “This is a national symbol, an important asset of modern heritage, and which will soon be accessible to the population again, through exhibitions, Heritage Education actions and other important projects.” The last four floors of the building will house spaces for exhibitions – from the National Center of Folklore and Popular Culture, the Palmares Cultural Foundation, the Brazilian Institute of Museums and the National Arts Foundation. On the terrace, with a privileged view of the city, a cafe and a restaurant will be maintained. History The building was designed to house the Ministry of Education and Health. Construction began in 1937 and was completed in 1945, during the government of Getúlio Vargas. The building is considered a milestone in the development of Brazilian modernist architecture, responsible for raising Brazil to international reference. Architects such as Oscar Niemeyer, Affonso Eduardo Reidy and Jorge M. Moreira participated in its conception, led by Lucio Costa. The project also had the consultancy of the French architect Le Corbusier. It was later named Gustavo Capanema Palace, a tribute to the then Minister of Education and Health, when the project was carried out. The palace also became a place for important national artistic references. It houses paintings and murals by Candido Portinari, sculptures by Bruno Giorgio, Adriana Janacópulos, Celso Antônio and Jacques Lipchitz, as well as gardens by Burle Marx. Recently, the building was involved in two movements to strengthen Brazilian culture. In 2016, Capanema Palace was occupied by social movements and artists against the closure of the Ministry of Culture. In 2021, the sale of public buildings to the private sector was announced, including Palácio Capanema, a proposal criticized by sectors linked to Brazilian culture and society.
Agência Brasil
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