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| Museum of African Art, Belém | |
|---|---|
| Name | Museum of African Art, Belém |
| Native name | Museu de Arte Africana, Belém |
| Established | 1980s |
| Location | Belém, Pará, Brazil |
| Type | Ethnographic museum |
Museum of African Art, Belém is a specialized cultural institution in Belém, Pará, dedicated to the collection, display, and study of African and Afro-Brazilian material culture. The museum situates its mission within broader networks of institutions such as the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, the Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional, and international partners like the British Museum, the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, and the Smithsonian Institution. Its programming engages with histories associated with the Transatlantic slave trade, the Portuguese Empire, and diasporic connections linking Luanda, Lagos, Kongo, Gulf of Guinea, and Salvador, Bahia.
The museum traces origins to municipal and state initiatives in the late 20th century that involved collaboration between the Secretaria de Cultura do Estado do Pará, the Universidade Federal do Pará, and local cultural agents from the Belém Municipal Chamber. Founding collections were partly assembled through exchanges with the Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical, donations from collectors active in the Amazonas region, and transfers from the Museu Nacional (Rio de Janeiro) after institutional reforms. Over time the institution has participated in national programs led by the Ministério da Cultura (Brazil) and has engaged curators with training at the Universidade de São Paulo, the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, and research residencies linked to the Fundação Nacional de Arte.
The collection emphasizes material culture from Central, West, and Southeast Africa, complementary holdings documenting Afro-Brazilian devotional practices in the Northeast Region, Brazil. Highlights include masks, sculpture, textiles, ritual objects, and musical instruments associated with traditions such as Yoruba, Kongo, Akan, Fon, and Bakongo practices. Objects are cataloged following conservation standards promoted by the ICOM and inventory protocols used by the Instituto Brasileiro de Museus. Provenance records reference contacts with collectors from Lisbon, Luanda, Rio de Janeiro, and private collections tied to families in Belém. The museum also preserves archival materials—photographs, field notes, and correspondence—related to ethnographers affiliated with the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, the Instituto de Estudos Brasileiros, and scholars connected to the Centro de Estudos Afro-Orientais.
Housed in a restored building characteristic of Belém’s historic center, the facility reflects conservation projects similar to interventions carried out at the Forte do Presépio and the Theatro da Paz. The structure integrates climate-controlled galleries, conservation laboratories modeled on standards from the Getty Conservation Institute and equipment aligned with protocols of the Laboratory of Restoration of the Museu Nacional. Support spaces include a library with holdings from publishers such as Editora UFMG and collections acquired through exchanges with the Biblioteca Nacional do Brasil. Accessibility upgrades have been developed in consultation with municipal planners linked to the Prefeitura de Belém and cultural heritage specialists from the Secretaria de Estado de Cultura.
Permanent displays contextualize objects with comparative materials borrowed through loan agreements with institutions such as the Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP), the Museu Afro Brasil, and academic collections at the Universidade Federal do Pará. Temporary exhibitions have showcased themes connecting Belém to cities like Recife, Salvador, Bahia, Luanda, and Dakar and collaborated with curators from the Museu de Arte Contemporânea de São Paulo and the Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro. Public programming includes concert series that draw performers associated with the Carimbó tradition and visiting scholars from programs run by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). Festival partnerships have linked museum events to the Círio de Nazaré calendar and citywide cultural festivals sponsored by the Secretaria Municipal de Cultura.
The museum supports research projects in ethnography, anthropology, and conservation in collaboration with the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, the Universidade Federal do Pará, and international centers such as the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African Art. Conservation programs adopt methodologies disseminated by the International Council of Museums and technical advice from the Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional. Ongoing projects examine object biographies, provenance, and the impacts of tropical climates on organic materials similar to studies undertaken at the Museu Nacional (UFRJ) and the Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia da Universidade de São Paulo.
Educational activities are co-developed with partners including the Secretaria de Educação do Estado do Pará, local schools in Belém, and cultural associations from Afro-Brazilian neighborhoods such as those in Jurunas and Pedreira. Outreach initiatives collaborate with religious and civic groups that preserve traditions linked to Candomblé, Umbanda, and popular processions rooted in Luso-Brazilian heritage. The museum also participates in networks with the Rede de Museus do Pará and international exchange programs coordinated through the Instituto de Cooperação Internacional.
Located in Belém’s historic district near landmarks like the Estação das Docas and the Mercado Ver-o-Peso, the museum is accessible via municipal transit corridors connecting to the Rodoviária de Belém. Visitor services include guided tours, an on-site shop offering publications from publishers like Editora da UFPA, and educational materials developed with the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi. Hours, admissions, and program schedules are administered in coordination with the Secretaria Municipal de Cultura and announced through municipal cultural calendars.
Category:Museums in Pará Category:Ethnographic museums in Brazil Category:Culture in Belém, Pará