BNDES allocates R$ 50 million for the reconstruction of the National Museum.
New investment raises to R$ 100 million the total amount invested by the bank in the recovery of the institution destroyed by a fire in 2018.
247 - The Brazilian National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) announced a new non-reimbursable financial support of R$ 50 million for the reconstruction of the National Museum, linked to the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). The investment, made through the BNDES Cultural Fund, raises to R$ 100 million the total amount allocated by the bank to the recovery of the institution, which had a large part of its collection destroyed in a fire in 2018. The information was released during a ceremony held this Thursday, the 2nd, at the National Museum itself, located in Quinta da Boa Vista, Rio de Janeiro.
The president of BNDES, Aloizio Mercadante, signed the immediate release of an initial disbursement of R$ 2,5 million, referring to financial support already foreseen within the total investment. In addition to the BNDES contribution, Cosan also announced a contribution of R$ 3 million to the restoration project. Mercadante emphasized the bank's commitment to preserving the country's historical and cultural heritage. "President Lula's government is committed to rescuing culture, so harshly persecuted in other times, and the Bank is part of this effort. It is the institution that has most supported Brazil's historical heritage, with a portfolio of more than 400 projects," he stated.
The resources will be used in several areas, including the restoration of the São Cristóvão Palace, the renovation and adaptation of the Central Library building, and actions aimed at cultural dissemination and activation. Furthermore, the contracts signed with BNDES provide for the structuring of an endowment fund to guarantee the long-term financial sustainability of the museum.
The director of the National Museum, Alexander Kellner, highlighted the long-standing partnership with BNDES and the institution's ongoing commitment to the recovery of the space. “BNDES has been with the National Museum/UFRJ even before the fire. On June 6, 2018, on the eve of our institution's bicentennial, an investment of R$ 21,7 million was signed. After the fire, BNDES continued to work with us, being quite flexible in adapting the approved project,” he stated.
The rector of UFRJ, Roberto Medronho, celebrated the release of the funds. “The release of funds by BNDES for the reconstruction of the National Museum is excellent news, which makes us very happy. We thank the president of the Bank, Aloizio Mercadante, for his support. This achievement is the result of the tireless work of the Minister of Education, Camilo Santana, and the personal commitment of President Lula, who has been dedicated to rebuilding the Museum as quickly as possible,” he stated.
The Executive Committee of the National Museum Lives Project, responsible for managing the reconstruction, also celebrated the new contribution. “This gesture of confidence in the work done so far encourages other institutions to also join this challenging and historic project: to give back to Brazil its first museum and its first scientific institution,” stated Hugo Barreto, CEO of the Vale Cultural Institute and member of the committee.
History and collection of the National Museum
Created in 1818 by King John VI, the National Museum was the first museum and scientific institution in Brazil. Initially located in Campo de Santana, now Praça da República, it was transferred in 1892 to the Paço de São Cristóvão, in Quinta da Boa Vista, a building that had previously been the residence of the imperial family between 1808 and 1889 and later housed the Constituent Assembly of 1891.
The National Museum is part of the Science and Culture Forum of UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) and has established itself as one of the most important research centers in the country, housing one of the largest collections in Latin America. Its collection includes anthropology, archaeology, ethnology, paleontology, and natural sciences. Among the highlights are the Egyptian collection, fostered by Emperor Pedro II, and the Teresa Cristina collection, which brings together Greco-Roman artifacts from the excavations of Herculaneum and Pompeii.
In the field of anthropology, the museum also houses one of the oldest human fossils found in South America, known as Luzia, dating back approximately 13 years. The material, recovered after the fire, is a key piece for studies on human occupation of the continent.
Furthermore, the museum's ethnology collections include objects from indigenous, Afro-Brazilian, and Pacific cultures, while its natural science collections encompass dinosaur fossils, minerals, and a vast diversity of invertebrates and vertebrates, including deep-sea species. With the new investments, the expectation is that the National Museum will recover its infrastructure and be able to fully resume its academic, scientific, and cultural activities, reinforcing its role as a reference in research and preservation of Brazilian historical heritage.