The concept of the absolute separation of the functions of the State with those of the Civil Society is changing in the last years, not only because of the lack of public funds to attend to all the country's necessities, but also due to the increasing number of citizens that feel co-responsible for the welfare of the community

The Seminar about Participatory Citizenship held in 1993 in the city of Rio de Janeiro, was pioneer in provoking and ample debate about the functions and the role of the so-called "Third Sector". Before that, many other "Friends Society" had already been created, with the purpose of reuniting persons and entities interested in giving support to public institutions holding educational, cultural and social and other programs. Our Friends Association of the National Historical Museum was one of them.

A society such as ours - Friends of the Museum - fits in among those in which citizens and institutions assemble to render certain services regarded as important for the communities where they live, without any purpose of financial return. It is the the so-called Third Sector. Today, in all the western world, philanthropic, confessional, civic, sport and cultural societies multiply themselves, with the sole purpose to finance, direct or merely support iniciatives in which the association finds an affinity that justifies the purposes of the foundation and its continuity.

Among them and the State, in all its forms and degrees, many times a tense relationship and mutual mistrust arises. Paternalism tradition , in which it was up to the State or the King to look after the public welfare, while the citizen had to take care of its own life and direct interests, is still rooted in the national subconscious. Free volunteer job, with no lucrative interests by organizations, is still seen with mistrust. Add to this, abuses and frauds, always treated with great emphasis by the media and politicians. Therefore, many difficulties of relationship arise between the State and the Third Sector.

The truth, luckily, is quite different. All over Brazil, thousands of persons and organizations work, not seeking profits, but only for the benefit of a work or the support of an idea that the institution considers worthy of. Even public servants - after all their wages comes from us, tax payers, with the innumerous tributes that burden us, even when their dedication and competence exceed their low salaries - deserve our respect and admiration.

Which is then our challenge? In my point of view, in countries such as Brazil, where the lack of public means is permanent and demands for resources is enormous, there is a pressing necessity to stimulate, create and put into function partnerships between government and civil society. Friends Associations of Museums have been a true example how these partnerships can work out and work well.

Just the same, periodically, criticism made by few and departments linked the Ministry of Culture arise, in relation to how to interact between the Societies and the Museums they provide support. I believe that such criticism can arise due, mostly, by the lack of a closer relatioship between the responsibles for these departments and directors of such Societies.

Therefore, I think it would be convenient to promote, soon, a meeting between directors of Friends Associations and the responsibles for Museums, in the cultural field. This meeting would have as its main scope, to determine the functions of the Friends Associations, examining criticisms that are received and the opportunities that exist for the extension of its activities for the benefit of public welfare.

I strongly believe that the supporting role of the Friends Associations will be more important each day for the development or our museums. This, however, will only be possible with the close collaboration of public authorities and their comprehension of the role they represent and how this role can be exercised without any risk to the public assets they support.