Abstract

Located in the historic center of Rio de Janeiro, the Museum of Art of Rio (MAR) is an institution created to take a transversal approach to the city’s history by exhibiting art and culture visual collections. The museum’s mission is based on the principle of articulating museum and art education through the creation of the “Escola do Olhar,” which contributes to the education of teachers that work in the municipal system. The MAR was conceived from a partnership between the City of Rio de Janeiro and the Roberto Marinho Foundation (FRM), a private nonprofit institution linked to “Grupo Globo,” the largest Brazilian communication conglomerate. The FRM has been exploring the concept of edutainment in Brazilian museums since the beginning of the twenty-first century. The connection between museum and school is also reflected in curatorial practices, as we can see at the exhibitions “When the Neighbor Becomes a Curator” and “Women in the MAR Collection”, interesting cases of collaborative curatorship supported by “Escola do Olhar.” The equivalent importance between museum and school can be architecturally seen in the MAR project. Designed by Bernardes and Jacobsen Arquitetura, the MAR integrates three existing buildings in the Mauá Square through the creation of a suspended walkway and a concrete marquee. This study aims to examine the symbolic and spatial relations established between education and museum at the MAR, analyzing both architectural, curatorial conception, and the public’s approach. As a research methodology, we studied the Management Reports (2013–2020) and applied questionnaires with the public.