The open air museum does not simply exhibit materials, but provides a wide array of services such as dance workshops, capoeira classes, and crafts sessions. It also runs courses for young people between the ages of 14 and 18, teaching them about local history so that they can become guides for the museum. Multi-purpose spaces such as these are important facilitators of micro-development, and an important instrument for poverty reduction.

At the moment Morro da Providência (Providence Mountain) does not receive much capital through tourism, and the decision to open a museum of this kind in 2005 was part of a concerted effort to turn the community into an area of social interest as a historical and cultural heritage site. 

As of 2014, the community has had a cable car to facilitate travel up the slope. While visiting the museum, one can take a ride in one of these pleasant cabins which offer lovely views of the city and vibrant community life.