Palmares Cultural Foundation

The Palmares Cultural Foundation (Fundação Cultural Palmares) is a Brazilian state-owned non-governmental organization which promotes Afro-Brazilian culture.

The foundation is a Brazilian public entity linked to the Ministry of Culture, established by Federal Law No. 7,668, of August 22, 1988.

The entity had its Statute approved by Decree nº 418, of January 10, 1992, and its mission is to comply with the constitutional precepts of reinforcing citizenship, identity, action and memory of the ethnic segments of the groups forming Brazilian society, in addition to promoting the right of access to culture and the indispensable action of the State in preserving Afro-Brazilian manifestations.

Article 215 of the 1998 Federal Constitution ensures that the "State will guarantee to everyone the full exercise of cultural rights and access to the sources of national culture, and will support and encourage the appreciation and dissemination of popular, indigenous and Afro-Brazilian cultural manifestations, and other groups participating in the national civilizing process".

The foundation is the initial authority for designating Quilombola communities across Brazil, while the INCRA serves as the final authority for issuing land title to quilombola applicants.

Since 2005, the organization was awarded the Order of Rio Branco, granted by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.