Luciana Casagrande Pereira
Luciana Casagrande Pereira

The architect Luciana Casagrande Pereira from Paraná represents a generation of women who have achieved prominent positions in the public sphere. Her delicate and youthful appearance belies the determined personality with which she manages a space traditionally dominated by men. For the past six years, she has been the leader of Secretary of Culture of Paraná. His administration is marked by significant achievements, many of them considered pioneering on the national scene, elevating artistic production in Paraná to another level. 

Luciana’s interest in culture began with the visual arts. “I first became excited about the area on television. I watched a Sesc documentary about the Spanish artist Antoni Tàpies and, when I saw how he expressed himself with such energy and intensity, I was touched. I immediately decided that this was what I wanted to work with.” This became a prerogative in Luciana’s life. After completing her architecture degree, she dedicated herself to cultural projects and then joined the Curitiba International Art Biennial, where she remained for 10 years. “I left the institution when I realized it was time for renewal and decided to take a break from my career.”

On the morning of December 2, 2018, Luciana received a call with a message from the governor, Carlos Roberto Massa Júnior (Ratinho Júnior), who wanted to speak with her. Surprised, she asked: “The governor? But I don’t even know the governor.” Hours later, she was face to face with him, in a conversation that lasted a little over an hour, and at the end, he gave her a challenging invitation: to take over the Secretary of Culture of Paraná, with the mission of bringing a broader and more innovative perspective to the area. From the beginning, they had something in common. “We are both from the countryside. I was born in Cascavel, and the governor is also from the countryside. We were well aware of the reality of culture in Paraná, which kept most of the state’s facilities concentrated in Curitiba. During the conversation, he made a provocation: “Broaden your perspective to work throughout Paraná.” And, at the end, he launched an unimaginable idea: “I want to bring an international museum to the state.”

Determined to face the challenge, Luciana began planning. “It was December, and I took over the position in January, and soon after I put together a team of qualified people. Since I had never worked in politics, I looked for technicians with solid resumes and, more importantly, who had a sparkle in their eyes. I don’t trust people who work without passion.” With this combination of vision and enthusiasm, she began a transformative journey for the culture of Paraná.

Centre Georges Pompidou. Credit: Bigstock

One of the most ambitious projects of his administration is the creation of an extension of the Georges Pompidou Center (Beaubourg), in Foz do Iguaçu, in the Triple Frontier. The architectural project is by Solano Benítez, Paraguayan, who has collected awards such as the SI Swiss Architectural Award 2007-2008 (SUI), AIA Honorary Fellowship 2012 (USA) and a Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale 2016 (Italy). Benítez will work in collaboration with the French team. Another milestone of Luciana's management will be the extension of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC) of Paraná within the Fábrica de Ideias complex, the former Brahma/Ambev brewery, in a somewhat deteriorated neighborhood of Curitiba. The 50 square meter site will be transformed into a bold space for art, technology and the creative economy, maintaining original architectural elements to create unique environments. 

MAC has one of the largest archives specializing in modern and contemporary art in the South of Brazil. The new director, Juliane Fuganti, is excited about what is yet to come in the coming years, as is Luciana. The secretary says that the museography of the new space will be decided by professionals in the field, but it should not have a traditional character, and will be open to experimental investigations. “Sometimes you need a more alternative space within the exhibition design. We are not thinking of a museum project, focused only on the white cube.” In this context, the goal is to provoke experiences and not just limit ourselves to exhibiting objects and works of art. “We will maintain permanent interaction between the museum and the public. The governor is young and believes in the transformative potential of art. He understands how important art is in the formation of citizens,” she comments.

When Luciana took over the position, the department's finances were in a state of vigilance. However, today she assures us that the situation is different. “In the beginning, when things were more complicated, I thought small and wanted to balance the coffers using the classic method: cutting people. I was lucky to have an efficient Finance Secretary who loves art, who lives for concerts, theaters, and exhibitions. He was the one who adjusted the finances.” From then on, she began working on the development and strengthening of culture, thinking big. 

A visit to the space of the future Fábrica de Ideias is surprising. The “skeleton” of the old Brahma draws attention due to the formal autonomy dictated by the related equipment. The old cylindrical tanks, intended for beer storage and now removed, create huge circular voids in the floor, and our gaze connects several floors through these giant holes, which the future project of the Fábrica de Ideias should incorporate, taking into account these geometric findings. The complex has high ceilings, very wide spaces and no walls, which allows for events and activities parallel to an exhibition. The “tour” of almost an hour gives an idea of ​​the magnitude of the place and the countless possibilities for occupation. 

The architectural renovation project is not yet complete, but one of its goals is to transcend the limits of mere contemplation and encourage more active public participation. The constructed area is estimated at around 34 square meters, which is almost the same size as each of the three floors of the São Paulo Biennial Pavilion. The architecture, which bears the traces of the original building, suggests that the place should attract many people interested in art, communication, artificial intelligence, technology and the creative economy, the driving forces behind this transformative project. 

The Department of Culture is not alone in this mega-project; it is part of a joint effort with more than ten state departments, including: Innovation, Modernization and Digital Transformation, and Planning. Luciana recalls that the governor came from the communications field, and his office will be in charge of the Communication Museum, which will be linked to the Museum of Image and Sound and Digital Art. “Things have been growing and the project has expanded. One of the highlights of this initiative will be a large central square that will pay homage to Alfred Agache, the creator of Curitiba’s master plan during Jaime Lerner’s administration.” At the same time, the concept of retrofitting, which revitalizes historic structures, will ensure that the original identity of the space is preserved, while new features adapt it to contemporary times..

The people of Curitiba are proud of their important figures and some of them will be immortalized on the walls of the Fábrica de Ideias. Luciana mentions the brothers André and Antônio Rebouças, who gave their name to the neighborhood and were the engineers responsible for the construction of the railway line connecting Curitiba to the coast. “Also honored will be the physicist and scientist from Curitiba César Lattes and the pioneer of aviation Alberto Santos Dumont, one of those responsible for the creation of the Iguaçu National Park.” 

I ask the secretary how much this mega-project will cost and she assures me that they will receive around R$200 million in investments, with support from Audi do Brasil. My conversation with Luciana goes on and I realize that this is not a restricted project, dedicated to a segment of Curitiba society. Quite the opposite. It is broad and full of complexities, mixtures, contrasts and differences. The bold use of technology will not go unnoticed and has already become the key to Curitiba's culture. Luciana is a leader who is visibly proud of her work and of so many challenging initiatives that are set to come to fruition by 2026. Curitiba has around 2 million inhabitants and the Department of Culture has good facilities, including: Teatro Guaíra (1954), Museu Oscar Niemeyer- MON (2002), Museu da Imagem e do Som-MIS (1969), Museu Paranaense-Mupa (1876), one of the oldest in Brazil, among others. The State also hosts the Curitiba International Art Biennial (1993). 

Luciana’s main goal at this time is to celebrate the Year of Brazil in France and the Year of France in Brazil, with events scheduled to take place between May and December, divided equally into four months in each country. Luciana, accompanied by the governor, made a strategic trip to France and achieved a significant milestone: confirmation of a performance by the prestigious Paris Opera at the Teatro Guaíra. This achievement is the result of intense bilateral negotiations and paves the way for a large-scale project in Paraná, involving an unprecedented partnership. Negotiations are still ongoing, and the secretary expresses her ambitious vision for the future: “Just as Santa Catarina is home to the Bolshoi, we aim to establish the Paris Opera in Paraná. We want to position ourselves as protagonists in the celebrations of the Year of France in Brazil.”

The culmination of this initiative is scheduled for October 2025, when the renowned Paris Opera will perform a joint concert with the Guaíra Theater Symphony Orchestra, marking a historic moment for Paraná and Brazilian culture.


Sign up for our newsletter

Leave a comment

Please write a comment
Please write your name