The official spoke about the reopening of this equipment under the supervision of the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage (DGPC), within the framework of the progressive “deconfinement plan” announced by the Government, which allows, from that date, the reopening of museums, monuments , palaces, art galleries and similar spaces. The possibility of purchasing online tickets to enter national cultural facilities was an ongoing project that, according to the Secretary of State, "was accelerated due to the context of the pandemic, to encourage safe purchases, and to facilitate access in a simple way, avoiding the queues ", he stressed, in declarations to Lusa.

To encourage the public to return to museums, monuments and national palaces, closed since 15 January, the DGPC will carry out an information campaign on social networks, explaining that "the visits are safe, as these facilities will meet all safety standards required by the Directorate-General for Health ", stated Ângela Ferreira. He stressed the advantages of internal equipment management, security and simplification of the online ticket purchase procedure for anyone, and "universal access for all citizens, anywhere in the world", where they can also obtain information about each piece of equipment. "Anyone will be able to buy tickets for the 25 pieces of equipment and receive confirmation on their cell phone to enter a museum, monument or national palace", stressed Ângela Ferreira, referring to the 'online' website Bilheteira.patrimoniocultural.pt, accessible by mobile devices from April 5th.

In terms of the influx to national cultural facilities, this year, after a sharp drop in visitors in 2020, of 70 percent in line with the 77 percent that suffered from museums around the world - due to sanitary restrictions to combat the pandemic, the Secretary of State said that, as all cultural spaces were closed on January 15 this year, there are very few registered working days to evaluate the return. This recovery is expected on the part of the tutelage as of 5 April, as happened at the reopening of 2020, very much based on national visitors: "The museums in Portugal are suffering the vicissitudes of being closed, but in the coming months we expect to present new monthly temporary exhibitions to boost the summer, and attract new national and foreign audiences ", he said.

He recalled that museums have been working to extend exhibitions that should have opened in February this year, as was the case with the exhibition "Guerreiros e Mártires", at the National Museum of Ancient Art, in Lisbon, which will remain open until the end of April . "There will be this work to create a more dynamic offer of temporary exhibitions in the coming months, as well as a parallel cultural program with music, cinema and dance shows," she said. As for the support to the museum sector, in the context of the pandemic, Ângela Ferreira recalled that the investment in the Museum Support Program, of the Portuguese Museum Network - ProMuseus 2021, which initially had an estimated value of 600 thousand euros for project applications, it was reinforced with another 400 thousand euros, now having a total of one million euros.

"The opening of this competition [on 22 March] will allow members of the Portuguese Museum Network to present projects of various kinds, from exhibitions to the scope of educational services", said the minister. Questioned by Lusa about the survey that was underway of the necessary works on the DGPC equipment, Ângela Ferreira said that "it is finished, and there will be news about the situation in the coming weeks".

Also on the ongoing survey of human resources needs, whose lack of directors of museums and monuments have been complaining for more than a decade, the Secretary of State said that this research "was done, and spoken in parliament, justifiably, by cause of the recruitment process in the public administration, which is a centralized issue ".

"What we are doing is, following this concerted and articulated strategy with recruitment - we have tender processes going on for vigilantes, and for a few dozen senior technicians, like archaeologists and conservatives - but the big pillar, and what was most needed , was the question of scientific employment ", he evaluated.

In this context, Ângela Ferreira said that in the beginning of April, a first notice will be opened for about 40 doctoral grants, in conjunction with the Foundation for Science and Technology [FCT], which will reinforce the study of the collections, and will promote and qualify the teams of museums, monuments and palaces, and in the José de Figueiredo Laboratory ".

The official said that "a detailed survey of the needs for this project was carried out", which covers areas of anthropology, archeology, architecture, design, art history, among others, and which foresees the total creation of a hundred doctoral scholarships, 40 in 2021, another 30 in 2022, and another 30 in 2023.

"On the other hand, we are working in conjunction with museums and universities, so that this qualified job can pass on knowledge in cultural facilities and develop thematic programs, deepen research and qualify these teams", she added.

As for scientific employment contracts, ten per year are foreseen, until 2023, in a process that is being finalized with the FCT.

In April, nine directors of museums and national monuments will also take up their duties, as a result of the first phase of the international competition for management positions launched by DGPC. Asked about the second phase of this contest, Ângela Ferreira told Lusa that it should be completed by the end of May, beginning of June this year.