On December 4, 2004 an association of various UBENY (Brazilian Writers Association of New York) members founded the Brazilian Endowment for the Arts (BEA). The Endowment arose from the desire of these association members to create an organization committed to promoting Brazilian art, literature, cultural traditions and intellectual endeavors and production in the United States.  Today this institution houses the Brazilian Library of New York, the first and only library of its kind in the United States dedicated to works in the Portuguese language. The initial catalog was established through donations from the National Library, the Brazilian Literary Academy, private institutions and individual donations. Today the library houses over 6,000 titles, in addition to collections of journals, magazines, CD’s and DVD’s.

The Brazilian Endowment for the Arts has hosted many notable visitors including academics such as Nelida Pinon, Jose Sarney, Sergio Rouanet, Ana Maria Machado, Marcos Vilaca, Nelson Pereira dos Santos, the Senator Cristovam Buarque, the cartoonist Mauricio de Souza and distinguished writer-poet and dramatist  Maura Yara de Souza.

The venue, where BEA’s programs and activities are presented, is a personal donation from the Coutinho family. Currently the institute does not have any external financial support other than the annuity from its members, fees for the events, contributions from distinguished guests, and sponsorship from the Brazilian Consulate of New York.