The Creation of IBRAM and Plans for the Future

The creation of the Brazilian Institute of Museums (IBRAM) represents an unprecedented moment in the development of museums in Brazil - not only in relation to public policy, but also within a broader socio-political process - which takes the value of heritage as a strategic resource within a concept of development based on principles such as equality and cultural diversity. As mentioned before, IBRAM inherited 28 federal museums (before under IPHAN). It will continue the work initiated by the former Department of Museums of IPHAN (DEMU), including the management of the National Museums Policy. The law creating the institute was approved in December 2008 and ratified by President Lula on 20th January 2009. The director of DEMU will assume his duties as the president of IBRAM in the beginning of 2009. The institute will fall under the Ministry of Culture and will have approximately 1.000 staff and an expected budget of 110 million reais (aprox. 40 million euros). The goal is to raise 120 million reais in investments for the museum sector. This includes creating a national museum assistance fund.

Some of the priorities for the coming years include: the More Museums Program (Programa Mais Museus) to stimulate the foundation of museums in municipalities; investments in collection acquisitions, mobility and safeguard programs for federal museums and improving access to museums. Another priority is to improve partner ships in the field of visual arts, including the creation of a network of contemporary art museums and museums connected to social movements in order to stimulate a broader exchange (national and international) of community resident artists. Other important events are calling for tenders for community museums, indigenous museums and quilombola (afro-descents) museums and the network for memory and social movements.

Together with the creation of IBRAM, the Senate approved the Statute of Museums, a legal framework to actuate museums, and which creates rules on access, protection, management and accountability of museums. One of the most relevant aspects refers to the duty of museums to create a museological (business) plan. The new law has raised a number of negative reactions and has trigged an ongoing discussion.

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