Rio City Hall Transfers R$ 451k to Keep MAR Running Through Year-End

Amid a severe financial and political crisis at the Museu de Arte do Rio (MAR), the Rio de Janeiro City Hall has transferred R$ 451,000 to the museum, ensuring its operation at least until the end of this year. The funds also cancel the termination notices given to employees in November. The next priorities are paying the outstanding R$ 1.5 million and renewing the Instituto Odeon's concession contract for another year. For 2020, the museum has a series of activities planned, as curator Paulo Herkenhoff explained. Private sponsorships and support for next year—such as Itaú Cultural's loan of Louise Bourgeois's "Spider" and a R$ 500,000 contribution for the exhibition opening—still do not cover operating expenses, which must be guaranteed by the city.