Luciana Basso is the Production Director of Museum Night. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). From a very young age, she began working in national and international tourism, in Brazil and Paraguay, until her retirement after three decades. In the cultural field, she organized ceramics, art, and literature events. She has been a member of the Museum Night Association since 2021.
Luciana, what role do you play exactly in Museum Night?
My main role is to communicate to museums the guidelines established by the Museum Night Association regarding the two annual events: Museums on Show/Los Museos se Muestran (May) and Museum Night/La Noche de los Museos (November). I also collaborate on Museum Night logistics, ensuring that each institution is aligned with the event’s objectives.
What logistics are involved in holding free events throughout the country’s capital and other cities such as Ciudad del Este, Itauguá, Areguá, and Encarnación?
There are many challenges in planning an event of this magnitude. Museum Night logistics requires strong organizational skills and teamwork, in addition to being in direct contact with directors and managers of more than 100 museums across the country. Sometimes, this involves visiting museums, providing feedback, and making suggestions for improving their participation.
How are attendee safety and smooth access to museums guaranteed?
The safety and smooth flow of visitors is ensured with the participation of public forces: police, firefighters, traffic officers, and emergency medical services, in addition to the support of more than 300 student volunteers from different universities across the country. All of this is part of the Museum Night logistics, which ensures that every detail is covered.
What do you enjoy most about logistics for Museum Night, and what do you enjoy least?
What I enjoy most is the contact with museums, collaborating with ideas or actions that help them to be seen and known. That is the main objective of the Association. I believe these years of work have yielded very positive results, with institutional support and alliances that reinforce the desire to continue moving forward. What I enjoy least are the administrative tasks, although they are an essential part of Museum Night logistics.
If there are shows in addition to open museums, how is it managed so that everything goes smoothly and everyone fulfills their role?
From the production and logistics department of Museum Night, several teams work together, each in their own area, planning, communicating, and following previously assigned guidelines that we’ve adjusted over the past few years and will continue to do so. Nothing is definitive; there are always new ideas and suggestions that we analyze to see whether or not we take them on board, depending on the need. It’s an exercise that strengthens us at each event to meet the Association’s objectives.
Regarding bus routes, what options will citizens have, and what do you recommend they do?
This year, we’ll have a total of nine bus routes in Asunción and cities throughout the province, all completely free for users. I recommend choosing the route that will take you to the museums you want to visit that night in advance. You can also make your own way to the museums. That night, admission to the museums is free, and everything is planned within the Night of the Museums logistics.
What mechanisms must be put in place for a museum to open outside of its regular hours?
Opening the museum outside of the normal established hours is a decision made by each space. We know that lots of them don’t usually do it due to a lack of budget and trained staff to cover all schedules. For the Night of Museums it requires time and planning. Our goal, as an association with the two events we organize each year, is to raise awareness of the spaces and forge alliances to support institutions in training professionals. It’s a huge and time-consuming task, but it’s a start.
Luciana Basso, director of logistics for Museum Night, on the couch
The key to a well-organized event: communication with the many teams involved.
A phrase: “In matters of culture and knowledge, you only lose what you keep; you only gain what you give away.” (Antonio Machado)
A moment you love: that Saturday of the event at 5:55 PM, when time stands still waiting for the opening of the Night of Museums at 6:00 PM.