Museu de Arte do Rio – MAR

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Museu de Arte do Rio 01

Rio de Janeiro has a new art museum, the Museu de Arte do Rio (Museum of Rio Art) or MAR, which is located in Praça Mauá.

The museum and gallery was opened by the President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, on 1 March 2013, the date of the city’s 448th birthday. It is the first really tangible result of the redevelopment of the city’s port area and a project known as Porto Maravilha.

The museum is just one of several new cultural centres planned for the port region in time for the 2016 Olympics. It is made up of two buildings, the Dom João VI Palace, which is a listed building, and a more modern building that used to be a car park and part of the bus terminal. The buildings are joined by a fifth-floor walkway.

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MAR has eight exhibition halls that offer visitors a multi-faceted vision of the history of the city and of its social fabric, life, conflicts, contradictions, challenges and expectations.

Exhibits promise to link the historical and contemporary dimensions of art through short- and long-term shows of national and international interest. It is currently amassing its own collection through acquisitions and donations and will also exhibit loaned art works from some of Brazil’s finest public and private collections. MAR also has its own school, the Escola do Olhar (School of Vision).

The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.

www.museumar.com

Vila Isabel is the top samba school in Rio for 2013 carnival

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Vila Isabel 2013 Champion

Vila Isabel was voted by the official jury to be the best samba school at Rio’s 2013 carnival. It was the third title for the school which was the last of the 12 major samba schools to parade.

The full result was:

  • Unidos de Vila Isabel (299.7 points out of 300)
  • Beija-Flor (299,4)
  • Unidos da Tijuca (299.2)
  • Imperatriz Leopoldinense (298.3)
  • Salgueiro (297.9)
  • Grande Rio (297.20)
  • Portela (296.6)
  • Mangueira (296.5)
  • União da Ilha do Governador (294.4)
  • São Clemente (293.5)
  • Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel (293.5)
  • Inocentes de Belford Roxo (291.1)

Brazil unveils 2014 FIFA World Cup poster

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2014fwc_op_reg_4c_s.inddBrazil has unveiled the tournament’s Official Poster for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The Official Poster was the last remaining visual icon to be launched for the 2014 edition of FIFA’s flagship event.

“The poster is a great example of Brazil’s creative excellence. The winning entry will no doubt serve as a splendid visiting card for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, that is due to kick off in 498 days. The poster highlights the significance and sparkle of the event as well as the fascination of football in a very emotive way”, explained FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke , who was part of a high-profile judging panel also made up of Brazilian Minister of Culture Marta Suplicy, LOC President Jose Maria Marin, Brazilian artist Romero Britto as well as LOC Board of Administration members Ronaldo and Bebeto.

“It’s different, Brazilian, creative and daring. It has our boundless size and manages to capture our rhythm and colours. Let’s go for victory!” said Marta Suplicy, Brazilian Minister of Culture.

The Official poster was designed by Brazilian creative agency Crama, which was selected ahead of two other designs.
“The Official Poster is an important step for showcasing Brazil and the FIFA World Cup in the Host Country and abroad. It is important to convey the message of a country that is modern, innovative, sustainable, happy, united and, of course, passionate about football,” explained Ronaldo.

The artwork depicts the beauty and diversity of Brazil through a colourful, emotional and vibrant design. The creative concept at the heart of the poster is “An entire country at football’s service – Brazil and football: one shared identity”, which inspired Crama to shape the winning design. This is evident throughout the poster, particularly where the players‘ legs challenging for the ball reveal the map of Brazil.

TAM Airlines wins another award for its wines

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TAM executive class wines

TAM executive class wines

TAM Airlines has won another of the top categories in Business Traveller’s prestigious “Cellars in the Sky”; awards that recognise airlines for the quality of the wines served on board their aircraft. The Brazilian company has received the award for the best red wine served in Business Class during 2012. The wine in question is Château Bel-Air-Ouÿ, 2007, a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru produced in Bordeaux (France). The winning wine is produced for TAM by one of France’s most respected winemakers, Jean-Luc Thunevin.

In February 2012 TAM won awards at “Cellars in the Sky” for the best red wine served in First Class, Clos Canon 2008, and also took the award as the airline with the most improved First Class wine cellar. In 2009 TAM was chosen by “Cellars in the Sky” to serve the best white wine in First Class with Michel Picard Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru “Les Chalumeaux” (2006).

Business Traveller, one of the world’s leading and most influential magazines targeted at the global business traveller, has annually organized the “Cellars in the Sky” awards since 1985. For eight months, a panel of five leading experts will have blind tasted over 250 wines served in the First Class and Business Class of the world’s leading airlines. To choose the winners the four independent judges considered that at altitude it is the elegance and subtlety of wines, and the delicate balance between acidity and alcohol, that is important.

Michael Palin wins the LATA Media Award for 2013

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Palin Brazil

Michael Palin is the recipient of the Latin American Travel Association’s media award for 2013.

The award was presented to Palin at a reception held on the House of Lords Terrace on Wednesday, 30 January 2013 and hosted by Baroness Hooper, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary British-Latin American Group, and Christopher Pickard, chairman of Latin American Travel Association.

The award was presented to Palin in recognition of his “impact in inspiring people to travel and learn more about the world and its people. And for his BBC television series and book “Brazil”, in helping to promote the understanding of Latin America.”

The evening also marked the 21st anniversary of LATA as an association.

 

TAM unveils new First Class cabin and Sao Paulo lounge

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TAM First Class 2012 01

Brazil’s TAM Airlines new Boeing 777s are the first to feature a new interior design and cabin developed exclusively for the airline by the British company, Priestmangoode.

The new First Class cabin presents the idea of a living room. The environment is personalised, providing more privacy and interaction with the new sleeper seat, entertainment system, and lighting. There is also a couch, individual closets, lamp, dining table, cushions, a Nespresso service, and a library with books, editions of Wallpaper guidebooks as well as general interest magazines.

TAM First Class 2012 03

TAM Airlines has also inaugurated its third VIP lounge in São Paulo’s International Airport (Guarulhos). The new space is located in Terminal 2.

Covering 540 square meters and with capacity of 174 seats, the room is decorated with furniture, materials, textures and colours that evoke the comforts of a house in a concept called “From Home to Home”. It also offers Wi-Fi, snacks, beverages, two TV lounges, a business centre, shower room, and a family area with computers for children.

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Brazilian film chosen as one of year’s best by New York Times

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Kleber Mendonça Filho’s O Som ao Redor (Neighbouring Sounds), which was chosen by the official jury at Festival do Rio as the best feature film of Première Brasil 2012, has also been chosen by the New York Times as one of the ten best  films of 2012.

The New York Times’ A.O.Scott noted: In his first feature, Mr Mendonça a former film critic, chronicles the daily rhythms of life in an affluent apartment complex in the Brazilian coastal city of Recife. What emerges is a subtle portrait of a society in the throes of rapid social transformation, still haunted by the cruelties of its feudal past.

New York Times Top 10 Films of 2012

  1. Amour, Michael Haneke
  2. Lincoln, Steven Spielberg
  3. Beasts of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin
  4. Footnote, Joseph Cedar
  5. The Master, Paul Thomas Anderson
  6. Zero Dark Thirty, Kathryn Bigelow
  7. Django Unchained, Quentin Tarantino
  8. Goodbye, First Love, Mia Hansen-Love
  9. Neighbouring Sounds (O Som ao redor) Kleber Mendonça Filho
  10. The Grey, Joe Carnahan

Frevo added to UNECSO’s cultural heritage list

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UNESCO has added frevo to its list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. One of 16 new elements inscribed in December 2012.

UNESCO states: “Frevo is a Brazilian artistic expression comprising music and dance, performed mainly during the Carnival of Recife. Its quick frenetic and vigorous rhythm draws upon the fusion of musical genres such as marching music, Brazilian tango, square dance, polka and pieces of classical repertoire, performed by martial bands and fanfares. The music is essentially urban, and like the accompanying dance, ‘Passo’, is vigorous and subversive. The dance stems from the skill and agility of capoeira fighters, who improvise leaps to the electrifying sound of steel orchestras and bands.”

Among the reasons listed for its adoption on the list were:

1: Frevo constitutes a syncretic artistic expression recognized by the people of Recife as a festive symbol of their identity and continuity and constantly recreated by them in response to changing social conditions;

2: Its inscription on the Representative List could favour dialogue, promote mutual understanding, and foster appreciation of the creative spirit of humanity, thanks in particular to its openness to diverse people and communities;

3: The description of safeguarding measures is thorough and extensive, with well-identified activities focused on promotion, dissemination, documentation and education; the commitment of the communities and the support of the State Party are demonstrated;

4: The element was nominated following wide and active involvement of the community, associations and groups concerned, and their free, prior and informed consent is amply demonstrated;