The Portuguese Museums Network

Abstract

In the last three decades there has been a very significant rise in the number of museums in Portugal. This movement has followed international trends within the museum sector, but it has also assumed specific characteristics that are very much its own in relation to the profound political and institutional transformations which took place in the country following the institution of democracy on 25 April, 1974. Echoes of this major political event were felt throughout the whole of society and resulted in a greater involvement of local communities in the protection of heritage, which in turn led to the birth of a large number of museums.

Políticas culturais de museus em Portugal: ciclos e processos de reflexão estratégica participada

“…Relativamente à RPM foi, entretanto, produzido um vasto conjunto de reflexões (Silva 2003;Semedo 2004;Camacho 2004;Silva 2004;Neves 2004;Santos et al 2005;Camacho 2007;Camacho 2008). Em 2010, Clara Frayão Camacho caracteriza a primeira década da existência da RPM com o sugestivo título «Balanço de uma revolução tranquila» segundo quatro fases de acordo com uma lógica cronológica (2000-2003; 2004-2006; 2009-2009; depois de 2010) com que subdivide o balanço feito e em que traça os desafios que então se colocavam à RPM .…”