The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, known in Spanish as the Instituto de
Cultura Puertorriqueña (ICP), was created in 1955 with the mission of
researching, preserving, promoting and disseminating Puerto Rican culture
in its diversity and complexity.

From the moment of its foundation, the ICP began acquiring objects
through the National Collection, currently guarded by the Fine Arts
Program. This collection consists of more than 40,000 artifacts of great
cultural value, which in its data range from the 16th century to the present
time.

The National Collection is the largest cultural heritage archive in Puerto
Rico and its subdivided into seven collections: textile, wood carving,
painting and sculpture, furniture, folk art, work on paper and military
artifacts. From religious paintings by the first known visual artist from
Puerto Rico, José Campeche, to contemporary landscapes, still-lifes and
portraits, this collection preserves works by many central figures in the
historiography of Puerto Rican art.

Much more than a valuable asset for museum exhibitions and cultural
institutions, the National Collection is an important resource for students,
curators, art professionals and researchers who wish to contribute and
expand the knowledge about our national heritage.