[MSN] Authorities seek shut-down of renowned Sao Paulo art museum

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Authorities seek shut-down of renowned Sao Paulo art museum
Last Updated: Saturday, January 19, 2008 | 3:50 PM ET
CBC News

One of South America's top museums, Brazil's Sao Paulo Museum of Art, could
be temporarily closed after a high-profile robbery revealed major flaws at
the institution.

Sao Paulo state authorities have filed a court request calling for the
museum to be shut down because it has been operating over the past 40 years
without formal permission from the city, police and fire services.

    The Sao Paulo Museum of Art could be shut down because state authorities
say the fire system doesn't work and exits aren't clearly marked. The Sao
Paulo Museum of Art could be shut down because state authorities say the
fire system doesn't work and exits aren't clearly marked.
    (Andre Penner/Associated Press) 

"There is an imminent risk to the life and health of museum visitors, as
well as to the priceless historic and cultural heritage that the
institution's collection represents," a state official in charge of health
and safety, Mariza Schiavo Tucunduva, said.

Earlier this month police recovered Portrait of Suzanne Bloch by Pablo
Picasso and The Coffee Worker by Brazil's Candido Portinari, which were
stolen in a brazen robbery just before Christmas.

Both works are back on display, but the robbery revealed the lack of
security at the museum as well as the lack of insurance.

An inspection of the building by city officials, a consequence of the
robbery, showed the fire system was not operating, extinguishers were
missing and exits were not clearly marked.

The museum's management has responded by calling it "the safest museum in
the country."

The Sao Paulo Museum of Art, which opened in 1947, is considered Latin
America's top museum for western modern and contemporary art.

Yet on Dec. 20, a gang of thieves, using only a car jack and a crowbar,
broke into the building and stole the two paintings, reportedly worth more
than $50 million US in total.

The building has no alarm and was relying on unarmed guards who patrol
inside 24 hours a day.

Images:
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/artdesign/story/2008/01/19/saopaulo-museum-court.html