the center was established in rio  in 1971, as an offshoot of the renowned calouste gulbenkian foundation, in lisbon, portugal, which helped to fund the construction of the center. calouste sarkis gulbenkian, an armenian art enthusiast and collection, who established the original foundation in 1956, in portugal.

the calouste gulbenkian, of rio de janeiro, was first set up in the former state of guanabara, with the goal of training art teachers - however, when guanabara merged with rio de janeiro, in 1975, the center became park of the municipal secretariat of education and culture.