The King's Brazil Institute (KBI) has been awarded a knight's status of the Order of Cultural Merit by the Government of Brazil. The only European institute to have received the Order, the Brazil Institute was recognised for its constant and considerable promotion of Brazilian culture in the UK since its inauguration in 2008. 

The ceremony, held at Presidential Palace (Palacio do Planalto) in Brasilia in late 2018, was presided over by the President and the Minister of Culture and is the highest decoration at a cultural level in Brazil.

“The inclusion of the Brazil Institute in the Order is the highest acknowledgment by the Brazilian Government. It proves that King’s is in the forefront of research and teaching about Brazil in the UK, and in Europe in general," said Dr Vinicius de Carvalho, who represented King's at the ceremony.

"We, at KBI, are very proud of this Order. This award motivates us to continue our work in promoting dialogue between Brazil and the UK through King’s.”

One of the objectives of the Brazil Institute is to raise the profile of Brazil in the UK through events and publications in English. 

"Looking at the Brazilian reality, its different aspects, helps to perceive Brazil as a more complex place than what the usual TV images show," said Professor Anthony Pereira, the Director of the Brazil Institute.

An example of the cultural activities conducted at the Brazil Institute is the King's Brazil Ensemble – a group dedicated to the study and practice of Brazilian and British classical music using string instruments.

The Order of Cultural Merit is awarded annually to 35 people or institutions that have constructively worked towards the diffusion and reinforcement of Brazilian culture.