EDP will invest BRL 12 million in Ipiranga Museum renovation

TNoday, on the anniversary of São Paulo, EDP, a company that operates across all segments of the country’s electricity industry, is announcing a R$ 12 million investment to help renovate the Ipiranga Museum, which has been closed since 2013. With support from the Federal Cultural Incentive Act, EDP became the first company to reach an agreement with the University of São Paulo (USP) to support the Museum’s refurbishment. Renovations are expected to last 30 months, with the Museum reopening in 2022.

“The bicentennial celebration of Brazilian Independence will be a historic event. As Brazil’s largest Portuguese investor, we have teamed up with the State Government and USP for this major milestone. The Ipiranga Museum is a part of the country heritage that connects Portugal and Brazil and has a place in the heart of every Brazilian citizen”,said Miguel Setas,CEP of EDP in Brazil.

At the Ipiranga Museum collection of over 450 thousand items, including objects, iconography and manuscripts dating as far back as the mid 20 th century, & nbsp;is key to understanding Brazilian society.The landmark building was built on 1890 and the Museum was opened to the public in 1895. & nbsp;The neoclassical building marks the spot where the Dom Pedro I allegedly read the Proclamation of Independence in 1822,on the banks of the Ipiranga River.One of the most well - known items in the collection is the ‘Independence or death!’ painting by artist Pedro Américo,dated 1888. & nbsp;The cultural venue, which has been closed since 2013, received an average of 350 thousand visitors every year.

 “We are hopeful that other companies will join us and become a part of the group of businesses that will support reconstruction of the Ipiranga Museum”, said the EDP CEO.

At the Paulista Museum, popularly known as the Ipiranga Museum, became a part of the University of Sao Paulo in 1963 and is considered a scientific, cultural and educational institution that focuses on History. The curators focus on organizing, expanding (through donations, acquisitions, etc), conserving, studying and archiving collections. The Museum offers various exhibitions, courses, educational programs and publications through which the general public can enjoy its collections.  

Commitment to Brazilian heritage

EDP believes that supporting the culture and arts of Portuguese-speaking countries helps showcase the richness and diversity of the most frequently-spoken language in the southern hemisphere. Part of the company’s mission is to showcase the depth and breadth of the Portuguese language, which is why EDP decided to become the biggest sponsor for reconstruction of São Paulo’s Portuguese Language Museum, investing R$ 20 million through 2019.

EDP has also created a travelling exhibition called “The Power of the Portuguese Language” (A Energia da Língua Portuguesa) to take the Museum’s experience across the country. The exhibition travelled inside a truck, bringing culture and information about the language to more than 23 thousand visitors in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Bahia and Ceará. The Company is also a cultural sponsor of the 25th International Book Biennial in São Paulo and co-sponsor of the International Literary Festival in Paraty (FLIP).

About EDP Brazil

EDP has over 20 years’ experience and is one of the biggest private-sector companies operating across the entire value chain. The Company has over 10,000 direct and indirect staff and is involved in energy Generation, Distribution, Transmission, Sales and Services. The company owns six hydro power plants and one thermal power station that serve around 3.4 million people in the states of São Paulo and Espírito Santo. The Company recently acquired a majority stake in CELESC, from Santa Catarina. In Brazil, the company is noted for its Innovation, Governance and Sustainability and has been included in the B3 Business Sustainability Index (BSI) for 13 consecutive years.