Vice-Governor Hana Ghassan participates in the inauguration of Casa BNDES at COP30
With free entry, the Complex of the Mercedarians transforms into a center of culture and diversity during the climate conference
Symbol of Amazonian history and architecture, the Complex of the Mercedarians, in the heart of the Old City in Belém, now houses the Casa BNDES at COP30, opened this Saturday (8). The Vice-Governor of Pará, Hana Ghassan, participated in the opening ceremony. The event also featured the presence of the president of BNDES, Aloizio Mercadante, the rector of the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Gilmar Pereira da Silva, and the socio-environmental director of BNDES, Tereza Campello, and Joenia Wapichana, president of the National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (Funai).
Representatives from partner countries of the Amazon Fund — Norway, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Denmark, and the European Union — were also present at the ceremony, which marked the beginning of a cultural program that unites art, science, and sustainability.
During the ceremony, Vice-Governor Hana Ghassan highlighted the symbolism of the delivery and pride in seeing the space restored and accessible to the public again.
"It is very good to see this historical, cultural space restored and returned to the population. For many years, this space could not be visited. Today, it tells our story again, the story of Pará, the Amazon, and Brazil. It is a joy to see this heritage being rescued, valuing our culture and strengthening the legacy of our state," said Hana Ghassan.
Accessibility - With free entry, the space will feature an intense program of films, exhibitions, performances, and sensory experiences that connect art, science, and sustainability.
The Casa BNDES will operate during COP30 with a program focused on valuing the Amazon and preserving historical heritage.
The highlight is CineCOP BNDES, a festival that proposes a dialogue between cinema and the central themes of the conference, bringing to the screens stories about the forest, the territory, and the resistance of the peoples of the Amazon and Brazil. The main attraction of CineCOP BNDES will be the national premiere of Tainá and the Guardians of the Amazon – In Search of the Blue Arrow, which will feature the presence of the cast and singer Fafá de Belém, who lends her voice to one of the characters. Over 13 days, the festival will screen more than 30 titles, starting at 3 PM.
The president of BNDES, Aloizio Mercadante, highlighted the historical value of the building, constructed in the 17th century, and the importance of the restoration as a symbol of memory and identity of the Amazon.
"This is a building that has been deteriorating for decades, and the city had lost this memory. The recovery work returns to the people a fundamental heritage to understand our history. BNDES is very proud to have contributed to this process, in partnership with the Federal University of Pará," he stated.
Projections - The Casa BNDES also invites the public to immerse themselves in sensory experiences through projections on the facade of the historic building and virtual reality films. The space will also host the unprecedented exhibition "Afluentes: paths and stories of the Amazon Fund," which brings together videos and photographs depicting experiences of projects supported by the Fund over its 17 years.
The socio-environmental director of BNDES, Tereza Campello, conducted a guided tour of the space, presenting the environments to the guests, including representatives from donor countries of resources for the Amazon Fund.
"It was a very emotional day. The Complex is very rich. It was a very careful and symbolic work for the region. We invite everyone to visit and learn more about the actions of the Amazon Fund and the cultural richness of our region, with exhibitions, immersive activities in virtual reality, and artistic presentations," highlighted Tereza Campello.
Preservation - The restoration of the Complex of the Mercedarians is one of several works in Belém supported by BNDES in the preparation process for COP30. The total investment is R$ 49.4 million, with R$ 36.3 million in non-reimbursable resources from the BNDES Cultural Fund, with support from UFPA, the Vale Cultural Institute, and Fapespa (Foundation for the Amazon Support for Studies and Research of Pará).
Originally built in 1640 and rebuilt in 1748, the complex includes the Church of Our Lady of Mercies and the former Convent of the Mercedarians, now the Mercedarians unit of UFPA. The complete inauguration of the complex is scheduled for 2027.
In addition to the academic and scientific activities already underway at the Mercedarians, the space will house the new Art Gallery of UFPA (GAU), a bookstore from the UFPA Publisher, the Museum of Cultural Heritage Sciences, a teaching project from the UFPA School of Music, and a new auditorium with a capacity for 175 people.
The rector of UFPA, Gilmar Pereira, reinforced that the space will be more than a tourist spot and also emphasized the social role of the university and the diversity that makes up the Pará academic community.
"The Complex of the Mercedarians represents not only a historical heritage of the city but also a living laboratory for teaching and research. Here, we have courses and programs focused on restoration, conservation, and the valorization of our historical center. UFPA is now the third largest university in Brazil and one of the most diverse, with 80% of our students self-declaring as black, brown, or indigenous. This reflects the true identity of the Amazon. We want to put this knowledge and this diversity at the service of our state, contributing to the training of professionals and the sustainable development of the region," concluded Gilmar Pereira.
Service
Casa BNDES at COP 30
Date: November 9 to 21, 2025
Hours: 3 PM to 10 PM | Free entry, subject to capacity
Address: Complex of the Mercedarians (Building of the former Customs House)
Boulevard Castilhos França, s/n - Campina Neighborhood, Belém-PA
(Between Rua da Indústria and Tv. Frutuoso Guimarães. Access in front of the parking lot of Estação das Docas)
