Museu Paranaense in Curitiba Doubles Attendance Through Contemporary Art Integration

Founded in 1876, the Museu Paranaense (MUPA) in Curitiba has transformed its approach since 2019 under director Gabriela Bettega, integrating contemporary art with its traditional archaeological, anthropological, and historical collections. The museum's visitor numbers nearly doubled from 73,327 in 2019 to 134,067 in 2023. This shift is exemplified by exhibitions like 'Retomada da Imagem' (2021), where indigenous artists Denilson Baniwa and Gustavo Caboco reinterpreted the museum's photographic archive, and 'Necrobrasiliana' (2022), curated by Moacir dos Anjos in partnership with Fundação Joaquim Nabuco, featuring 12 Brazilian artists reimagining historical 'brasiliana' documents. The current long-term exhibition 'Objeto Sujeito,' curated by Pollyana Quintella with Felipe Vilas Bôas and Richard Romanini, commissions 12 artists to create new works that enter MUPA's permanent collection, questioning historical narratives. The museum's public program now includes music, dance, cinema, and community events, moving beyond static historical displays. Secretary of State for Culture of Paraná, Luciana Casagrande Pereira, announced plans to establish eight MUPA branches across the state's macro-regions by the end of the current administration.