The objective of the museum is to preserve, protect, research and disseminate the national artistic heritage through exhibitions, talks, conferences, seminars, library, videos and slide shows.
It was founded on September 18, 1880, and is the oldest fine arts museum in Latin America. The building where the museum is at present located dates back to 1910 and it is situated in the Parque Forestal, one of the few green areas of downtown Santiago.

The museum displays a series of collections which include paintings, sculptures, and graphic arts, and owns approximately 5,600 original works by the most important Chilean and foreign artists.

Visitors have access to services such as the library, information center, shop and bookshop of the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, interactive learning room, educational activities and import and export of works of art.

The museum offers guided tours of a minimum duration of 45 minutes and a maximum of 60 minutes. You can visit the permanent exhibition of Chilean paintings and sculptures or any temporary exhibition on display in the museum at the time of your visit.

The museum is open in winter (April 1 to November 30) from Tuesday to Saturday from 10.00 to 19.00 hrs. On Sundays it is open from 10.00 to 18.00 hrs. During the summer (December 1 to March 31) it is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11.00 to 20.00 hrs. On Sundays it is open from 11.00 to 19.00 hrs.

It is located at Parque Forestal s/n in Santiago. The telephone number is (56-2) 6391946, email: dduarte@oris.renib.cl and the website www.mnba.cl