Simonetta Luz Afonso

Maria Simonetta Bianchi Aires de Carvalho Luz Afonso (* 1946 in Lisbon ) is a Portuguese museologist and cultural manager.

Career

Luz Afonso studied history and then completed postgraduate studies in museology. Her professional career began in 1972 as a conservator at the Palácio da Pena in Sintra. In 1974 she took on the same function in the Palácio de Queluz , of which she was director from 1983 to 1991.

Between 1980 and 1983 she was President of the Instituto de Conservação e Restauro . Between 1991 and 1996 she took over the post of General Director of the newly created Instituto Português de Museus . From 1995 to 1997 she was Chair of the Portuguese Section of the International Center for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM).

As a curator, she was responsible for the Portuguese contribution to the Europália 91 Festival in Belgium, which focused on Portugal. In 1995 she took over the design of Portugal's contribution to the world exhibitions Expo 98 in Lisbon and Expo 2000 in Hanover.

Between 2001 and 2004 she was the curator of the Museu da Assembleia da República , and from May 2004 to August 2008 she was president of the Instituto Camões . In November 2009 she was elected President of the Assembleia Municipal of Lisbon.

Honors

• 1990: Officer of the Ordre national du Mérite (France)
• 1990: Officer of the Order of the Phoenix (Greece)
• 1990: Officer of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Cyprus
• 1991: Commander of the Order of the Infante Dom Henrique (Portugal)
• 1991: Officer of the Order of the Lion of Finland
• 1992: Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands)
• 1995: Grand Officer of the Order of the Infante Dom Henrique (Portugal)
• 1999: Grand Officer of the Order of Christ (Portugal)
• 2009: Great Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Web links

• CV at the Câmara Municipal Lisbon (Portuguese)