Museu de Arte Moderna Aloisio Magalhães Strengthens Despite Federal Cultural Attacks

Mabel Medeiros, director of the Museu de Arte Moderna Aloisio Magalhães (Mamam) in Recife, has navigated half of her nearly three-year tenure under the Covid-19 pandemic and persistent federal attacks on Brazil's cultural sector. She describes a government project of institutional weakening and dismantling, using cultural sector reduction as a strategy for social narrative control. Despite this, Mamam received the 2019/2020 Prêmio ABCA for its programming strength. A key current directive is establishing gender equity, starting with an analysis of its collection where only 149 of 1225 works are by women. This focus is reflected in programming and internal team formation. The museum, founded in 1997 in a 19th-century mansion and linked to the city's Culture Secretariat, also emphasizes virtual engagement, dialogue with local artists, and strengthening research and education. Financial difficulties persist, with budget cuts and a state decree suspending non-health expenditures. The museum operates with 11 employees, 13 interns, and 8 municipal guards. Medeiros believes virtual platforms are here to stay but require rethinking. The museum's collection committee, established under previous director Beth da Matta, guides acquisitions, and the institution remains open to artist proposals. Working in the current political context is described as very difficult, with ideological criteria now guiding cultural incentive laws.