Built in 1880, the building that houses the Centro Cultural Banco
do Brasil was originally headquarters for the Trade Association
and the Bank of Brazil. Since 1989 it has been a cultural center
that consists of three theaters, four exhibition rooms, a library,
cinema, and a video room. A beautiful piece of architectural history,
the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil is located in what used to be
the financial district of Rio de Janeiro.
The Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, often referred to as CCBB,
offers a wide selection of contemporary and retrospective exhibitions.
There is one permanent exhibit which is a historical look at the
museum itself, titled: “Brazil Through the Currency.”
The intense cultural agenda of programs and exhibitions draws a
strong crowd of admirers and regular museum goers. The cinema offers
an impressive viewing collection of art films and regularly hosts
experimental film festivals.
The center is comprised of several separate viewing areas. The four
exhibition rooms are distributed over two floors and come to approximately
1,430 square meters. These rooms will hold a variety of exhibitions
ranging from fine art paintings and sculptures to contemporary photography.
Both the Cinema and the Video room show art films and retrospective
samples, as well as host film festivals. Theater I is the exclusive
playing space for theatrical performances. Theater II hosts music
and dance performance as well as minor theatrical productions. Theater
III is used for concerts both popular and instrumental. This space
can also hold 35 four-place tables for banquets.
There are two projects that are the focus of the center itself:
the Education Program and Knowing the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil.
The education program sponsors visits that focus on a particular
area which are followed by workshops on art history and the particular
artists of the exhibitions that are viewed. Knowing the Centro Cultural
Banco do Brasil is a program designed to explore and share the wealth
of history and culture of the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil building
itself and guided focus on the museum’s architecture.
In a period of 5 years, the center has given approximately 1,026
separate events including arts exhibitions, audio/visual performances,
theater, dance, music and debates. Since it’s inauguration
it has accumulated 47.6 million dollars in investment funds. The
daily newspapers carry detailed lists of what events and exhibitions
are being hosted at the museum. Many of the museum’s events
are free of charge, however, some of the concerts and festivals
do carry and admission fee. The Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil
has an average of approximately two thousand visitors daily.
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