Cultural hub inaugurated in celebration of the
“150 Years of Italian Immigration in Brazil”
The Consulate General of Italy in Rio de Janeiro, the Italian Cultural Institute of Rio, and the IED (European Institute of Design) have joined forces to create the “ItalianoRio Cultural Hub – Art, Design, and Innovation,” which opens to the public on February 22, during the week celebrating the National Day of the Italian Immigrant in Brazil. Fully revitalized, the new cultural hub will serve as a showcase, reflecting the ongoing dialogue between Italy and Brazil across various spheres. Located in the Casa d’Italia building in the heart of downtown Rio (near Cinelândia and Santos Dumont Airport), the space features a lounge and mezzanine totaling nearly 500m² and was designed to host art, fashion, and design exhibitions, as well as events focused on gastronomy, technology, and innovation. The venue will also offer courses, seminars, lecture series, and other programming. With the goal of strengthening and establishing cultural and scientific ties, partnerships with other institutions are already planned.
Kicking off the annual calendar of temporary exhibitions, the show “1874-2024: 150 Years of Friendship and Connection Between Italy and Brazil, Together Toward the Future” will feature a 42m² mural by artist Bruno Big, depicting the arrival of immigrants and their significant role in coffee cultivation, alongside videos and thematic panels on their influence on the sociocultural development of Rio and Brazilian society. In the mezzanine, “Dell’Architettura – Italian Presence in the Rio Landscape” will open, featuring approximately 40 images of architectural masterpieces captured by Aristides Corrêa Dutra.
