São Paulo – The “Points of Memory 2011” (2011 Points of Memory Award), promoted by the Brazilian Museum Institute (Ibram), should receive 48 initiatives to promote the Brazilian social memory in the country and abroad. A total of 45 projects will be awarded on the national territory, receiving awards of 30,000 Brazilian reals (US$ 17,000), and three among Brazilian communities abroad, which will receive 50,000 reals (US$ 28,000). Enrolment is open up to November 27th. Ibram is a federal autarchy connected to the Ministry of Culture.
“We have noticed growth in activities of Brazilian communities abroad, but there was no initiative stimulating the connection of these activities with the with Brazilian memory where they are located,” explained José do Nascimento Junior, the president at Ibram. “Talking to the Brazilian diaspora had been an old dream of ours and with this award we can work with it,” he explained. This is the first edition of the award.
Among the activities that may compete to the award are organisation of exhibitions, promotion of oral history and recovery of the arrival process of Brazilian communities in the countries in which they live. “There are many possibilities, like introducing the first Brazilians who arrived in that country. These activities create important links in these relations,” said Nascimento.
Category “Point of Memory Abroad” accepts the participation of natural people, natural Brazilians or those naturalized and who are over 18 years of age. Enrolment may be by individuals or groups, connected or not to cultural centres or institutions. The value of the award should be used for improving the initiative for social memory that was presented by the candidate at the time of registration for the award.
“The entire Brazilian diaspora has important activities. The foreign ministry has a department to focus on these communities and the Ibram initiative may help these people’s projects. We hope that, if it works out, we may continue next year,” said Nascimento. According to the president at Ibram, the award is a “strategic work for a nation that is trying to reach greater presence on the international community.” “This initiative addresses activities for the strengthening of Brazilian communities and also the country’s image abroad,” he finished off.
Enrolment may be on the Ministry of Culture site (www.cultura.gov.br) and also on the Ibram web page (www.museus.gov.br). Further information may be obtained on link www.museus.gov.br/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Edital-Pontos-de-Memoria.pdf.
*Translated by Mark Ament
