UNESCO inspects the reconstruction works at the Museu Nacional

On November 19th, the UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, and the Director and Representative of UNESCO in Brazil, Marlova Jovchelovitch Noleto, visited the ongoing restoration works at the Museu Nacional/UFRJ headquarters and were able to witness the progress of the restoration of the country’s first museum.

Guided by museum expert Amanda Cavalcanti (MN/UFRJ) and consultants of PMNV, Caio Gonçalves Dias (in charge of managing the new exhibitions) and Patricia Hockensmith (institutional relations), the delegation closely observed the work in progress across various sections of the historic building, including the restoration of the Bendegó meteorite room and the installation of a skylight over the central staircase courtyard.

The directors were welcomed at the Paço de São Cristóvão by Roberto Medronho, Rector of UFRJ; Ronaldo Fernandes, Deputy Director of the Museu Nacional/UFRJ; Larissa Graça, Technical and Strategic Manager of the Museu Nacional Vive Project (PMNV); and Mariângela Menezes, President of the Friends of Museu Nacional Association (SAMN).

After the visit, the UNESCO Director-General reaffirmed her organization’s commitment to the PMNV on social media, highlighting efforts to rebuild the collections: “Since 2018, UNESCO has organized a series of meetings with Brazil’s partner countries to encourage them to donate artworks. This initiative is already yielding results. Austria, Denmark, and Portugal have announced donations to the Museu Nacional. Germany, France, and the United States have agreed to offer material and financial support. Other donations are currently under negotiation, and we hope to finalize them soon.”

UNESCO is part of the Executive Committee of the Museu Nacional Vive Project.