permanent collection
[/ˈpɜːrmənənt kəˈlɛkʃən/]
nounpl: permanent collections
acervo permanente
1. The core collection of artworks, artifacts, or objects that a museum or institution owns and displays on a long-term or indefinite basis
The Metropolitan Museum's permanent collection includes works spanning thousands of years of human creativity.
O acervo permanente do Museu de Arte de São Paulo inclui obras de artistas brasileiros e internacionais.
2. The inventory of items that form the foundation of a museum's or gallery's holdings, as opposed to temporary or traveling exhibitions
Most visitors spend their time exploring the permanent collection rather than the rotating special exhibitions.
A maioria dos visitantes passa mais tempo vendo o acervo permanente do que as exposições temporárias.
This is a formal institutional term widely used in museum contexts in both Brazil and the United States. In Brazil, major cultural institutions like MASP (Museu de Arte de São Paulo) and Pinacoteca do Estado prominently feature their permanent collections as the cornerstone of their offerings. The term reflects the distinction museums make between their core holdings and temporary exhibitions, which is important for understanding how cultural institutions present their missions and values.
Related Idioms & Phrases
to curate the permanent collection
to add to the permanent collection
rotate the permanent collection
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