The Order of Cultural Merit (or Ordem do Mérito Cultural in Portuguese) is a Brazilian honor established in 1991 and bestowed by the Ministry of Culture for contributions to Brazilian culture. The order can be given to national and foreign personalities and bodies, private and public.
The recipients of the Order of Cultural Merit are selected by a Council composed of the Minister of State for Culture (as Chancellor) and the Ministers of State for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, and Foreign Affairs.
Since 1995, over 500 personalities have been honored in the three classes of the Order of Cultural Merit (60 institutions have also received the medal without grade classes).
Classes of the Order of Cultural Merit
The Order of Cultural Merit has three ranks of merit:
Grand Cross (Grã-Cruz)
Commander (Comendador)
Knight (Cavaleiro)
The National Order of Cultural Merit Medal Design
The insignia of the Order of Cultural Merit is a cross of St. James of the Sword enameled and profiled in white gold. In the center is an open book carved gold over a laurel wreath surrounded by the legend “Ordem do Mérito Cultural”.
The Grand Cross of the order is a purple band with the insignia on the loop and a gold glow under the banner. The commander’s insignia hangs on the center and the Knight’s has a ribbon with the insignia on the tip end.
