In the field of international relations and cultural exchange policy, the work of Alejandro Brittes and historian and cultural producer Magali de Rossi has established significant milestones in South American cultural diplomacy. Both were directly responsible for initiating, developing, and overseeing the overall coordination of the First Official Cultural Mission of the State of Rio Grande do Sul to the United States, organized to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Jesuit-Guarani Missions.
The government delegation included official representatives of the Rio Grande do Sul State Secretariat of Culture, led by State Secretary of Culture André Kryszczun and the department’s Director-General and Administrative Director, Fabrício Marquezin Covcecich. The mission established direct connections between the state government, internationally recognized universities, and high-level international cooperation organizations.
The institutional program in the United States featured a series of academic and diplomatic activities. At The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., Brittes presented his (L)ESTE concert and formally donated a boxed collection of research books to the university’s Oliveira Lima Library.
At the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS), Alejandro Brittes participated in the official panel and served as a spokesperson for the musical legacy of the Jesuit-Guarani Missions. His contribution highlighted the essential role of Indigenous peoples in the formation of Chamamé and reinforced the genre’s recognition by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The occasion was marked by another formal donation of the research book collection to the OAS Columbus Memorial Library.
The mission culminated in an institutional visit to the United States Library of Congress, where Brittes continued a relationship established in 2023, when his performance was recorded and archived by the American Folklife Center.
Through this initiative, Brittes facilitated direct engagement between officials of the renowned institution and representatives of the Brazilian government. This institutional collaboration enabled the formal donation of a boxed collection of books commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Jesuit-Guarani Missions, ensuring the physical preservation of these research publications within the world’s largest library.
The mission was made possible through funding from Pró-cultura RS, under SEDAC Public Call No. 06/2026 – FAC Mobilidade.