A Look Around Curitiba
By Ana Claudia Cichon and Ronaldo Duarte
The Paço da Liberdade (Palace of Freedom), inaugurated on the 29th of March, is open to the public so that they can admire the architecture and visit the exposition “Avesso da Possibilidade “ : paintings by Geraldo Leão and Raul Cruz ; and a display of photos taken during the restoration of the building.
Situated in the old Paço Municipal (City Hall) – the only building in Curitiba listed by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage -, located in Generoso Marques Square in the centre of the city, the space will be managed by Sesc (Commerce Social Service). According to the director of the Paço da Liberdade Sesc Parana Unit, Celise Helena Niero, around five million Reals were spent on the restoration.
“The visitors will be able to enjoy a dynamic cultural agenda, with various events”, stated Ms. Niero. According to Jonas Prates, Sesc’s cultural coordinator, the building was received empty. “We defined innovation and access as basic guidelines for the use of the space.” Many of the projects for the Paço’s use were selected by tender, which, in Mr. Prates’ view, serves as a form of democratisation of access to, and use of, the space. Each of the building’s floors is designated a different use. On the first floor, there will be people to guide the public on the use of the Internet, an interactive panel with a database of the State’s cultural productions, a coffee shop – which will promote music and moments of reflection – as well as a bookshop, which will sell local designers’ products, selected by tender.
The second floor has been prepared to house an electronic art workshop. It will be used for long-term courses; training courses for artists with some experience; cinema courses for local producers; and to hold artist forums. The third floor was chosen as the site of a multi-lingual room to stage musical and theatrical shows, as well as moments of reflection, and also a recording studio. “This studio will make access to quality recording easier for local bands, as in private studios this service is still not very affordable”, said Mr. Prates.
The selection of bands will also happen by tender. An ample exposition space for various arts, such as paintings and sculptures, is already in service on the top floor. The gallery was opened with oil paintings by the local artist Fernando Velloso. In addition, Sesc forecasts the external occupation of Generoso Marques Square, with urban intervention. “The cultural centre was envisaged to be a multifunctional place, as a space to recognise and divulge Parana’s culture”, said Ms. Niero.
The inauguration of the new Paço da Liberdade was part of the commemorations of the 316th anniversary of the city of Curitiba. Since its opening, the centre has enjoyed a daily average of 1,300 visitors. More than 8,000 children from the municipal school system have passed through its doors, thanks to a partnership between Sesc and the Municipal Secretariat for Education. Information The Paço da Liberdade Sesc Parana, in Generoso Marques Square, receives monitored student visits. The cultural centre will be open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9am to 10pm. Admission is free.
