as a result the variety of exhibitions has broadened and cultural events such as literary workshops, cooking classes, dramatic productions, design shows, and expositions portraying both the identity and culture of brazil and rio de have become more frequent.

as a result, the center diversified - the work of artists including rosana palazyan, daniel senise, waltercio caldas, and christian boltanski have also been shown more often since the turn of 2008.  

originally commissioned in 1819 the original building was designed by french architect grandjean de montigny, who lived to his last days in rio de janeiro.