Build Back Better: a participatory approach to mapping, measuring and mobilising cultural heritage in Brazil's Iron Quadrangle
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen Mary University of London
Department Name: Drama
Abstract
This research addresses an acute threat to Brazilian cultural heritage from a predicted hazard that has been persistently raised as an urgent concern by a range of international scientific experts, local engineers and community activists. A pilot project will be undertaken within Brazil's Quadrilatero Ferrifero (Iron Quadrangle), a region of rich cultural, environmental and historical value but also the site of Brazil's largest iron ore reserves. The Iron Quadrangle includes two UNESCO World Heritage sites (Ouro Preto and Congonhas), five towns classified as Brazilian National Heritage sites, hundreds of listed monuments, unique archaeological sites and some of Brazil's significant indigenous rock paintings and ceramics.
The gold, soapstone and vibrant pigments of the minerals of the Iron Quadrangle were transformed in the 17th and 18th centuries by sculptors, painters, craftworkers and engineers into architecture that represents the apotheosis of the Brazilian Baroque. The region's abundant immaterial culture is rooted in tastes, sounds, words, rhythms, dances, decorations and rituals that have been forged in contested histories and mined from Brazil's most vertiginous and verdant land. Yet the people, the outstanding natural environment and the rich cultural heritage are at imminent risk from catastrophic natural and humanitarian disaster resulting from industrial mining. Two major landslip and flood events between 2015-2019 resulted in the loss of almost 300 lives and wreaked environmental devastation along a 1000km watershed.
Despite the unique cultural significance of Brazil's Iron Quadrangle, there has been no systematic research to measure the impact of recent disasters on the region's cultural heritage or on the lives of local communities. The project will pilot a community-based, collaborative approach to redressing the chronic lack of data in Brazil's current disaster response policy. In partnership with the Inhotim Institute (Latin America's largest outdoor art collection and one of Brazil's most prestigious contemporary art galleries), the research team will propose and test a method to train representatives from local arts and cultural organisations in methodologies that co-create inventories of cultural practices and assets. Using multi-disciplinary indicator tools to calibrate cultural value the research will examine what role cultural heritage can have as part of a process of transformation and regeneration. The project will establish Inhotim as a competence centre - 'hub' - for a community-based research strategy that values cultural heritage as a means of securing survival against future risks. A key aim of this project is to enhance cultural heritage's role in social agendas and influence decisions by policy makers by highlighting the measurable social, cultural and economic benefits of cultural assets and resources in dialogue with local communities, artists and cultural organisations.
The gold, soapstone and vibrant pigments of the minerals of the Iron Quadrangle were transformed in the 17th and 18th centuries by sculptors, painters, craftworkers and engineers into architecture that represents the apotheosis of the Brazilian Baroque. The region's abundant immaterial culture is rooted in tastes, sounds, words, rhythms, dances, decorations and rituals that have been forged in contested histories and mined from Brazil's most vertiginous and verdant land. Yet the people, the outstanding natural environment and the rich cultural heritage are at imminent risk from catastrophic natural and humanitarian disaster resulting from industrial mining. Two major landslip and flood events between 2015-2019 resulted in the loss of almost 300 lives and wreaked environmental devastation along a 1000km watershed.
Despite the unique cultural significance of Brazil's Iron Quadrangle, there has been no systematic research to measure the impact of recent disasters on the region's cultural heritage or on the lives of local communities. The project will pilot a community-based, collaborative approach to redressing the chronic lack of data in Brazil's current disaster response policy. In partnership with the Inhotim Institute (Latin America's largest outdoor art collection and one of Brazil's most prestigious contemporary art galleries), the research team will propose and test a method to train representatives from local arts and cultural organisations in methodologies that co-create inventories of cultural practices and assets. Using multi-disciplinary indicator tools to calibrate cultural value the research will examine what role cultural heritage can have as part of a process of transformation and regeneration. The project will establish Inhotim as a competence centre - 'hub' - for a community-based research strategy that values cultural heritage as a means of securing survival against future risks. A key aim of this project is to enhance cultural heritage's role in social agendas and influence decisions by policy makers by highlighting the measurable social, cultural and economic benefits of cultural assets and resources in dialogue with local communities, artists and cultural organisations.
Publications
Poppy Spowage
(2023)
Future Directions for AHRC-DCMS Cultural Heritage and Climate Change Research
| Title | Para além das galerias (Beyond galleries) |
| Description | This short documentary was a direct result of Roots of Resilience Young Ambassadors Programme in Passagem de Mariana. Raed, the Young Ambassador, directed and produced a film on the history of Mina da Passagem, a mining cave that for years served as a location for gold extraction but is now deactivated. With enterviews with the owner and some of the workers of the mine (that is now deactivated and became a tourist site), Raed explores the history of mining in the region and the socioeconomic impacts of Mina da Passagem on the city. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | The screening of the film happened in June 2022, during the Roots of Resilience Local Seminars in Passagem de Mariana, and the audience cheered the initiative because it highlights the historical impact of mining in this region. |
| Title | Rap music "O clima tá tenso" (2022) |
| Description | Thiago SKP was one of the artists who developed the Educational Programme as a part of Roots of Resilience. He worked with +200 students from 4 public schools in Itabira to promote a dialogue with children and young people on culture, climate and heritage using art and rap as a tool of connection between him and the students. One of the main results of his work was the creation of the rap song "O clima tá tenso", which tells us about the importance of acknowledging the urgency of climate action in the context of territories already affected by predatory mining and environmental catastrophies. |
| Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | The music and the videoclip are being used by Thiago and other educators in schools all over Itabira to raise awareness of children and young people on climate change and the importance of arts based approaches to deal with the challenges imposed by environmental changes. |
| Title | Rap music "Quanto vale?" |
| Description | Music developed by Thiago SKP with school children as part of the project's artistic commissions . The music linked Itabira's history (a mining city on the countryside of Minas Gerais, Brazil) with the current environmental and economic problems its communities face. "Quanto vale?", the title, refers to how much does it cost to keep mining activities as well as to the name of the Brazilian largest mining company, Vale. |
| Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Raising awareness of young people about the impact of mining exploitation in their territories/heritage. |
| Title | Vale? Five artists at the frontline of Brazil's worst environmental crime |
| Description | The documentary "VALE?" showcases five Brazilian artists from Minas Gerais who, with music, poetry and circus performance, speak of their pain, fears and hopes four years after the collapse of the Brumadinho dam that killed almost 300 people. The documentary, directed by Paul Heritage and Marcelo Barbosa, looks at the art and cultural heritage of Minas Gerais and asks: how much is it worth? |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | The documentary was released in Minas Gerais in February-March 2023, and will be further explored in festivals and other events that aim to raise awareness on the threats imposed by predatory mining in the Iron Quadrangle. During the screening of the film in Belo Horizonte, Brumadinho and Ouro Preto, audience members related that they were deeply touched by the documentary, and that they felt more connected than ever to the communities affected by the dam break in Brumadinho. The film was seen as an important tool for remembering the severity of the Brumadinho dam break, and it was also noted that the communities affected all over the Iron Quadrangle felt that the film approached this very serious issue in a sensitive way, while also raising awareness of the importance of culture and arts in the resistance against mining activities. |
| Description | The research allowed the development of a unique methodology to produce a better understanding of the value of tangible and intangible cultural heritage in the region, as well as identify potential threats. It tested strategies to enable and support community-based research practices that seek to strengthen the integration of cultural heritage sustainability into climate action, national disaster and risk reduction strategies in Brazil. To go beyond traditional frameworks, we employed a socio-economic institutional analysis to ensure an understanding of cultural heritage as a multidimensional, multi-value and multi-attributed economic good - an analysis that goes beyond a purely economic focus, employing co-created indicators to assess risks, impacts, values, and the potential of cultural heritage and the traditions that produce it. As part of this process, we successfully trained 12 representatives from five community-based arts organisations in research methodologies to enable them to collect and analyse data, resulting in a collaborative mapping of local heritage and cultural traditions in the Iron Quadrangle that are not recognised or represented in official data. This has produced new understandings of the role and value of cultural heritage in climate action and sustainability in the region, as well as the threats facing it, from a community perspective. Findings demonstrate that cultural heritage organisations play an integral role in communities' engagement with, and understanding of, local environmental and humanitarian challenges; offer viable economic alternatives to the mining industry; and play a critical role in creating more secure societies. The research has shown the unique capacity of such organisations to articulate the development value of their region's cultural heritage, and revealed the ability of arts-based civil society organisations to build community confidence around the preservation of local knowledge systems in aid of sustainable development and climate action It was possible to understand that the actions of these organisations: • allow, with greater intensity, the contact with those attended by them through experiences, cultural and artistic activities, with new people and professionals from the cultural areas. • promote the development of interpersonal and professional skills that place the cultural (and educational) sector as one of the income alternatives to the mining-dependent production chain for the inhabitants of the Iron Quadrangle cities. • produce ties with the territory, history, culture, and local cultural heritage, which are perceived as a condition for these heritages' preservation, both by the transmission of practices and traditions, as well as by the generation of demand for investments. |
| Exploitation Route | The research processes allowed the partner organisations to know the profile of their audience, which helps them develop strategies for reaching other targeted audiences, as well as activities that address the current public. Taking part in the process also allowed the organisations to build capacity on research methods that enable them to conduct other similar research on their own. Research findings allowed for a better understanding of current gaps perceived in keeping heritage alive and being able to use it as tool to protect the environment. Most respondents see a transmission gap from one generation to the other in terms of knowledge about the importance of heritage. Finding ways to engage young people with heritage though educational programs is another way to move things forward. Reserach findings also allowed for the understanding of the role cultural heritage plays as an economic alternative to mining in the region. Opening of opportunities though the creative economy or local tourism is a key way of applying research results. Policy, research and practice recommendations on how to link heritage and climate action were one of the outputs of the research. Discussion of those recommendations with policymakers and other stakeholders locally and nationally to better understand what can be done is a key path forward. The Educational Programme that derived from the original Build Back Better/Roots of Resilience research showed that, throughout the implementation of the education projects, organisations and artists could test the use of different cultural heritage practices: hip-hop/rap, theater/performance, band music (brass orchestra), creative reading/writing, and other African-Brazilian cultural traditions. Raising awareness about heritage and climate issues started with the application of the aforementioned methodologies, with cultural and artistic practice as a bridge to dialogue with communities, and these methodologies can be replicated by other artists, educators and cultural organizations in Brazil. |
| Sectors | Creative Economy Education Environment Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| URL | https://peoplespalaceprojects.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/roots-of-resilience-report-english.pdf |
| Description | The findings have been used to shape a follow-on funding grant that helped deliver 6 educational programs with the artists and partner organisations on the importance of heritage on climate preservation and disaster mitigation/prevention; a training program to 5 young people (ages 15 - 29 years old) to deliver heritage and climate oriented activities in their territories is also under development; discussion on policy through webinars and local seminars to develop a policy paper to guide future heritage/climate policies in the Iron Quadrangle region. Additional funding in the same call was also secured to develop a partnership with the Secretariat of Culture from the city of Rio de Janeiro to transfer the methodology to up to 10 arts organisations in the city. The projects were developed under the Gestores Culturais pelo Clima project, which was developed from July to September 2022. Over 300 people were reached with the 10 projects held by the cultural venues in Rio de Janeiro. Creative outputs derived from this application include 2 documentary films ("Vale?" by Marcelo Barbosa and Paul Heritage, and "Para além das galerias"/"Beyond Galleries" by Raed), 2 music recordings ("Quanto vale?" and "O clima tá tenso", both by Thiago SKP) and 2 music videos ("Quanto vale?" and "O clima tá tenso", both by Thiago SKP). All have been launched between 2022 and 2023. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Creative Economy,Education,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | Recommendations to inform new funding call including a policy-research engagement programme |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Additional Funding, Research Grant, Follow-on Funding Impact & Eng |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | AH/Y001966/1 |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2024 |
| End | 04/2024 |
| Description | Impact Accelerator Account: HSS Impact Awards 2022-23 |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Queen Mary University of London |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 07/2023 |
| Description | Queen Mary ISPF Institutional Support Grant (ODA) Rapid Response Call - Extend |
| Amount | £14,981 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Queen Mary University of London |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2024 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Description | Roots of Resilience: building secure societies through preserving cultural heritage (Follow-On to Build Back Better AH/V006355/1) |
| Amount | £129,987 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | AH/W006979/1 |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2021 |
| End | 10/2023 |
| Title | Qualitative Interviews with Cultural Heritage and Climate Change Sector Stakeholders |
| Description | Undertook 45 qualitative interviews via zoom with cultural heritage and climate change sector stakeholders, participants included: Alison Tickell (Founder and CEO of Julie's Bicycle), Bryony Butland (Director of Research and Innovation at QMUL), Ed McGovern (Programme Lead - Climate at Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation), Ferdinand Saumarez (Project Developer and Curator at Factum Foundation), Inua Ellams (Nigerian-born British poet, playwright and performer), Jurema Machado (Consultant in heritage and cultural policies and former president of the Brazilian National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage), Kate McGrath (Director and CEO at Fuel Theatre), Leandro Valiati (Senior Lecturer and Programme Director in Creative and Cultural Industries at the University of Manchester), Louisa Hrabowy (Programme Lead - Culture at Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation), Luana Campos (Executive Secretary at International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) , (Brazil)), Murilo Yudjá - Juruna Indigenous community (Member of Slow Food Brazil), Nick Merriman (Director of the Horniman Museum and Gardens), Pedro Ferreira (Research and Programme Consultant at United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)), Richard Couldrey (Programme Manager at Transition Network), Shoubhik Bandopadhyay (Head of Programme - Arts at Paul Hamlyn Foundation) and Tim Bell (Senior Producer at Complicitè). |
| Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | These qualitative interviews created data that was used in the research to inform 16 recommendations, report and executive summary as part of the consultation. |
| Title | Dataset for online survey: Roots of Resilience |
| Description | 489 responses collected by the 6 cultural heritage partner organisations with people who participate and/or have participated in their activities on the role of cultural heritage and the arts in supporting their mental health, enabling their access to cultural activities and acquisition of new skills, enhancing their networks, self-confidence and involvement with this communities. Also, a hazard perception set of questions was included related to climate/environmental disasters. Most survey respondents answered questions online between 14 June and 31 August 2021. There was greater participation from women (63% of survey respondents), people with higher education qualifications (42.54%), and young people aged eighteen to thirty-four (44%). |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | From the 489 survey responses collected between 14 June and 31 August 2021: (1) 61.4% of the respondents pointed out that cultural heritage organisations activities helped them handle problems affecting their mental health, such as environmental disasters and health crisis. (2) More than half of the respondents pointed out that they had acquired knowledge related to local culture (60.5%), arts (56.5%) and cultural traditions (52.7%) through the participating organisations' activities. (3) 86.9% of survey respondents stated that they had met new people through their contact with the organisations. (4) 75% believe they could influence the future and the preservation of local cultural heritage, while a smaller portion (43%) felt that those responsible for preserving and maintaining local cultural heritage take into consideration what they think. (5) For survey respondents, the biggest current environmental threats are the possibility of further ruptures of tailings dams (57.9%) and inadequate exploitation of natural resources (46%). Other environmental problems pointed out as threats to cultural heritage were fires (38.8%), air pollution (38.6%) and chemical contamination of soil and groundwater, either by mining waste or by the indiscriminate use of pesticides (24.5%). |
| URL | https://peoplespalaceprojects.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/RoR-Short-report.pdf |
| Description | Research-Policy Connections |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | After successfully securing a tender supported by DCMS and AHRC, we have been working closely with partners AHRC to shape the future directions of their cultural heritage and climate change portfolio, following a report of recommendations this collaboration includes developing a new website to enhance communication about the cohort of projects the programme currently supports, and designing a policy-research engagement programme to sit alongside the next highlight notice advertised by Arts and Humanities Research Council. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Arts and Humanities Research Council have contributed funding for this programme, we also collaborated on facilitating a 2-day workshop in Manchester for representatives from the previous grant cohort, DCMS and British Council which informed some of the research and recommendations we are now collaborating on. |
| Impact | Report of Recommendations; Executive Summary; Website; 2024 Grant Programme. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Research-Policy Connections |
| Organisation | Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | After successfully securing a tender supported by DCMS and AHRC, we have been working closely with partners DCMS to shape the future directions of their cultural heritage and climate change portfolio, following a report of recommendations this collaboration includes developing a new website to enhance communication about the cohort of projects the programme currently supports, and designing a policy-research engagement programme to sit alongside the next highlight notice advertised by Arts and Humanities Research Council. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Department of Culture Media and Sport have contributed funding for this programme, representatives also attended a 2-day workshop in Manchester which informed some of the research and recommendations we are now collaborating on. |
| Impact | Report of Recommendations; Executive Summary; Website; 2024 Grant Programme. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | "VALE?" Documentary screening in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The documentary "VALE?" showcases five Brazilian artists from Minas Gerais who, with music, poetry and circus performance, speak of their pain, fears and hopes four years after the collapse of the Brumadinho dam that killed almost 300 people. The documentary, directed by Paul Heritage and Marcelo Barbosa, looks at the art and cultural heritage of Minas Gerais and asks: how much is it worth? The screening happened in Museu da Moda (Belo Horizonte), and after the exhibition participants engaged in a discussion that questioned how culture and artists can work in alliance with local communities in order to fight against the threats imposed by mining activities in Minas Gerais. Four of the five artists who were a part of the documentary were present on this event, contributing to the discussions that arised during the debate. Many members of the audience related that they were deeply touched by the documentary, and that they felt more connected than ever to the communities affected by the dam break in Brumadinho. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | "VALE?" Documentary screening in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The documentary "VALE?" showcases five Brazilian artists from Minas Gerais who, with music, poetry and circus performance, speak of their pain, fears and hopes four years after the collapse of the Brumadinho dam that killed almost 300 people. The documentary, directed by Paul Heritage and Marcelo Barbosa, looks at the art and cultural heritage of Minas Gerais and asks: how much is it worth? The screening happened in the City Council (Brumadinho), and after the exhibition participants engaged in a discussion that questioned how culture and artists can work in alliance with local communities in order to fight against the threats imposed by mining activities in Minas Gerais. Four of the five artists who were a part of the documentary were present on this event, contributing to the discussions that arised during the debate. This screening happened in the city that was directly affected by the dam break in 2019, and the citizens of Brumadinho were extremely moved by the content of the documentary. Many members of the audience related that the documentary was very important because it shows people the extent of their loss, and it also shows the importance of culture and arts for helping them overcome this trauma collectively. Community leaders, city councelors and people who lost their relatives in the dam break were present in this screening, and the discussions that happened after the documentary exhibition highlighted the need for justice and reparation for the families in Brumadinho. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | "VALE?" Documentary screening in Ouro Preto (Minas Gerais) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The documentary "VALE?" showcases five Brazilian artists from Minas Gerais who, with music, poetry and circus performance, speak of their pain, fears and hopes four years after the collapse of the Brumadinho dam that killed almost 300 people. The documentary, directed by Paul Heritage and Marcelo Barbosa, looks at the art and cultural heritage of Minas Gerais and asks: how much is it worth? The screening happened in Museu da Inconfidência (Ouro Preto), and after the exhibition participants engaged in a discussion that questioned how culture and artists can work in alliance with local communities in order to fight against the threats imposed by mining activities in Minas Gerais. All five artists who were a part of the documentary were present on this event, contributing to the discussions that arised during the debate. Many members of the audience related that they were deeply touched by the documentary, and that they felt more connected than ever to the communities affected by the dam break in Brumadinho. Audience members also related their concern with predatory mining activities in their region and how these activities are affecting the health and well being of the communities, including forced displacements and many human rights violations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Culture, Climate, Action! Series of webinars |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In April 2022, a series of four webinars was conducted following the discussion on the importance of building resilience through cultural activities on territories affected by mining in the Iron Quadrangle. Each webinar had a theme: 1. Climate change (in)action: how to protect heritage 2. Do look up: policies for climate and heritage 3. Artivism: the artist in face of disasters 4. Paths to resilience: how communities design a future The main goal of this webinar series was to discuss how local communities can articulate and resonate cultural practices as a way of fighting against climate change and other environmental threats deriving from mining activities. Community leaders, artists and scholars from Brazil and the UK discussed the ways in which arts and culture can pave the way for resistance in territories affected by climate change and mining, showing that resilience must be built with the recognition of cultural heritage - both material and immaterial - as a factor of social cohesion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=magOLMqHVh4 |
| Description | ECo-Nversations: The Role of the Arts in the Climate Emergency |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | How do we change hearts and minds about the climate crisis? Is it time to get cultural institutions, artists, and storytellers on board? When will we paying attention to the voices on the front line of the fight for climate justice? Eco-nversation is a podcast that brings together activists, artists, and academics to discuss our roles and responsibilities in the climate emergency, produced by People's Palace Projects at Queen Mary University of London In this first episode, we talk about the role of artists and arts organisations in responding to the climate emergency. Guests: Madani Younis and Zoe Svendsen. Madani is chief executive producer of The Shed (New York, USA) and former creative director of the Southbank Centre (London, UK), and artistic director of the Bush Theatre (London, UK) and Freedom Studios (Bradford, UK). Madani says we must make active commitments, drive change and find ways to hold each other accountable. Zoe Svendsen is an associate artist at Donmar Warehouse (London, UK) and lecturer at Cambridge University (Cambridge, UK), with vast experience as a director and dramaturg, including at the Barbican, Young Vic and Shakespeare's Globe (London, UK). For Zoe, the questions we need to ask about who we are and how we live in the world must be articulated as a conversation, both in and beyond the theatre. Hosted by Paul Heritage, director of , an art research centre for social justice and Professor of Drama and Performance at Queen Mary University of London. Executive production and script: Yula Rocha/ People's Palace Projects Audio design: Image: #ShowYourStripes by University of Reading |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://open.spotify.com/show/5IheM3KhVjgJpQ7BafoFQL |
| Description | Educational climate change workshop with school students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This activity happened as a part of the 2023 edition of the Educational Programme, in the school E. E. Josefina Wanderley Azeredo in Nova Lima. The activity was led by Casa Quilombê and Lucas Fabrício. This event took place on 3/05/23 and was attended by 110 students and 2 artists. The impact of the activity was that it worked towards transforming the young people's perception of the climate crisis, building self-worth and self-esteem, and stimulating the ability to find new ways to build a fairer and more sustainable world. The workshop used a variety of specific artistic methodologies using music, theatre, painting, images and body/movement to raise awareness and spark discussion about the climate crisis. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Educational climate change workshop with school students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This activity happened as a part of the 2023 edition of the Educational Programme, in the school E. E. João Felipe da Rocha in Nova Lima. The activity was led by Lucas Fabrício, Thiago SKP and Banda São Sebastião. This activity happened on 25/04/23, and was attended by 80 school students 16 years and over, and facilitated by 2 artists. The impact of the activity was that it worked towards transforming the young people's perception of the climate crisis, building self-worth and self-esteem, and stimulating the ability to find new ways to build a fairer and more sustainable world. The project's aim was to carry out artistic actions to debate the ways in which climate change affects food production, air and water quality and community knowledge and their cultural manifestations. This aim was achieved through educational activities focused on youth engagement and raising awareness among children about taking care of the planet and their communities by offering art education workshops, with music, theatre, painting, images and body/movement. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Educational climate change workshops with school students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Two workshops took place on 25/4/23 as a part of the 2023 edition of the Educational Programme, in the school E. E. João Felipe da Rocha in Nova Lima. The activity was led by Lucas Fabrício, Thiago SKP and Banda São Sebastião. Workshops were attended by a total of 70 students, one with aged 13-14 year olds and one with 16 and 17 year olds, facilitated by 3-4 artists. The impact of the activity was that it worked towards transforming the young people's perception of the climate crisis, building self-worth and self-esteem, and stimulating the ability to find new ways to build a fairer and more sustainable world. The project's aim was to carry out artistic actions to debate the ways in which climate change affects food production, air and water quality and community knowledge and their cultural manifestations. This aim was achieved through educational activities focused on youth engagement and raising awareness among children about taking care of the planet and their communities by offering art education workshops, with music, theatre, painting, images and body/movement. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://peoplespalaceprojects.org.uk/en/projects/roots-of-resilience/ |
| Description | Educational climate crisis workshop with school students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This activity happened as a part of the 2023 edition of the Educational Programme, in the school E. E. Josefina Wanderley Azeredo in Nova Lima. The activity was led by Casa Quilombê and Lucas Fabrício. This activity took place on 3/05/23 and was attended by 80 students aged 13-14 years old with 2 artists facilitating the artistic workshop. The impact of the activity was that it worked towards transforming the young people's perception of the climate crisis, building self-worth and self-esteem, and stimulating the ability to find new ways to build a fairer and more sustainable world. The workshop aimed to stimulate interest and awareness about climate change specific to the context of the students and their surroundings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Educational climate crisis workshop with school students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This activity happened as a part of the 2023 edition of the Educational Programme, in the school E.E Dr. Paulo Diniz Chagas in Belo Horizonte. The activity was led by Casa Quilombê and Lucas Fabrício. The event took place on 14/4/23 and was attended by 50 students. The impact of the activity was that it worked towards transforming the young people's perception of the climate crisis, building self-worth and self-esteem, and stimulating the ability to find new ways to build a fairer and more sustainable world. The project's aim was to carry out artistic actions to debate the ways in which climate change affects food production, air and water quality and community knowledge and their cultural manifestations. This aim was achieved through educational activities focused on youth engagement and raising awareness among children about taking care of the planet and their communities by offering art education workshops, with music, theatre, painting, images and body/movement. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://peoplespalaceprojects.org.uk/en/projects/roots-of-resilience/ |
| Description | Educational climate crisis workshops with school students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | These educational workshops took place across April and May 2023 as a part of the 2023 edition of the Educational Programme, at Comunidade Quilombola de Marinhos in Brumadinho. Workshop 1. took place on 6/05/23 and was ran by Casa Quilombê, Lucas Fabrício, Thiago SKP and Banda São Sebastião. It was attended by 35 school students aged 15 years and over. Workshop 2. took place on 13/04/23 in the school E.E. Padre Machado in Brumadinho. The activity was led by Banda São Sebastião and Thiago SKP. It was attended by students aged 10-11 years old. Workshop 3. took place on 13/4/23 in the school E.M. Beatriz Pampulini in Brumadinho. The activity was led by Banda São Sebastião and Thiago SKP and was attended by 15 students. Workshop 4. took place on 12/04/23 in the school E.M. Padre Vicente Assunção in Brumadinho. The activity was led by Casa Quilombê and Banda São Sebastião and attended by 70 students. The impact of the activity was that it worked towards transforming the young people's perception of the climate crisis, building self-worth and self-esteem, and stimulating the ability to find new ways to build a fairer and more sustainable world. The project's aim was to carry out artistic actions to debate the ways in which climate change affects food production, air and water quality and community knowledge and their cultural manifestations. This aim was achieved through educational activities focused on youth engagement and raising awareness among children about taking care of the planet and their communities by offering art education workshops, with music, theatre, painting, images and body/movement. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://peoplespalaceprojects.org.uk/en/projects/roots-of-resilience/ |
| Description | Educational climate crisis workshops with school students in Itabira. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Four educational workshops took place in Itabira as part of the 2023 edition of the Educational Programme. Workshop 1. took place on 11/4/23 in the school E.M. Antônio Camilo Alvim in Itabira. The activity was led by Casa Quilombê, Lucas Fabrício and Thiago SKP. It was attended by 250 students. Workshop 2. took place on 11/4/23 in the school E.M. Alice Martins Fontes in Itabira. The activity was led by Casa Quilombê, Lucas Fabrício and Thiago SKP. It was attended by 80 students aged 4-10 years old. Workshop 3. took place on 10/4/23 in the school E.M. Dona Inês Torres in Itabira. The activity was led by Casa Quilombê, Lucas Fabrício and Thiago SKP. It was attended by 180 students aged 4-8 years old. Workshop 4. took place on 10/4/23 in the school E.M. Marina Bragança de Mendonça in Itabira. The activity was led by Casa Quilombê, Lucas Fabrício and Thiago SKP. It was attended by 60 students. The impact of the activity was that it worked towards transforming the young people's perception of the climate crisis, building self-worth and self-esteem, and stimulating the ability to find new ways to build a fairer and more sustainable world. The project's aim was to carry out artistic actions to debate the ways in which climate change affects food production, air and water quality and community knowledge and their cultural manifestations. This aim was achieved through educational activities focused on youth engagement and raising awareness among children about taking care of the planet and their communities by offering art education workshops, with music, theatre, painting, images and body/movement. Each workshop was informed by the specific urban/rural context of the school itself. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://peoplespalaceprojects.org.uk/en/projects/roots-of-resilience/ |
| Description | Research and Scoping Visit to Belém in the Amazon Legal |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Building on the original research commissioned by the AHRC/DCMS, in March 2024, the research team organised a partnership development and scoping visit to Bélem in the Amazon Legal, to support the development of a programme to extend cultural heritage and climate change research in the lead-up to COP30 in Belém (Brazil) [November 2025]. The original research brought together academics/artists/activists/cultural heritage stakeholders in the Brazilian Iron Quadrangle and identified an urgent need to build capacity in the cultural sector, engage the public, and coordinate and disseminate research findings. The recommendations from PPP's DCMS/AHRC-commissioned report (2023) will inform a new funding programme to be launched in April 2024 and in preparation this engagement scoping visit was undertaken to establish new partnerships with HEIs, Indigenous activists and cultural institutions in one or more of Brazil's 9 Amazonian states ahead of COP30. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Research team attendance at COP27, Egypt |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Research team members Thiago Jesus and Shirley Djukurna Krenak attended the COP27 Climate talks to participate in policy dialogues about Indigenous people's protagonism within international solutions to the climate crisis. (Thiago Jesus's participation was funded by Queen Mary University of London). Press coverage was secured, and interviews were recorded with other participants of the COP27 talks. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/2022/pr/queen-mary-tackles-sustainability-and-environmental-challe... |
| Description | Roots of Resilience Educational Programme Final Seminar in Minas Gerais (June 2022) - Brumadinho |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In June 2022, as a part of the Roots of Resilience project, the organizations and artists who were part of the Educational Programme organized local seminars to present the results of their projects and connect with their communities, policymakers and other interested audiences. In Brumadinho, the cultural organizations Banda São Sebastião and Casa Quilombê organized an event at Banda São Sebastião headquarters. Amongst many other issues, the audience raised a discussion on the importance of empowering culture as a means of facing the threats imposed by predatory mining activities in the regions, especially remembering the context of the 300 lives lost in the 2019 dam break in Brumadinho. After the discussions, the organizations presented their results of the Educational Programme in Brumadinho and Quilombo de Marinhos. Lucas Fabrício, one of the artists that developed the Educational Programme in Nova Lima, also presented the results of his project. In the end, the Young Ambassadors from Quilombo Marinhos and Brumadinho, presented the results of the projects they implemented as part of the Young Ambassador programme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Roots of Resilience Educational Programme Final Seminar in Minas Gerais (June 2022) - Itabira |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In June 2022, as a part of the Roots of Resilience project, the organizations and artists who were part of the Educational Programme organized local seminars to present the results of their projects and connect with their communities, policymakers and other interested audiences. In Itabira, Thiago SKP was the artist that, in cooperation with Fundação Cultural Carlos Drummond de Andrade (FCCDA), organized an event at FCCDA's headquarters. In the first part of the event, Paul Heritage chaired a discussion on cultural heritage and mining with Prof. Leonardo Reis (UFOP), Itabira's Secretary of Environment Denes Lott and Sinara Rubia (Rio de Janeiro's Municipal Secretariat of Culture). After the discussion, Thiago SKP presented the results of the Educational Programme in Itabira and, in the end, he premiered the short music clip for "O clima tá tenso", a rap song he made as a result of the Educational Programme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Roots of Resilience Educational Programme Final Seminar in Minas Gerais (June 2022) - Passagem de Mariana |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In June 2022, as a part of the Roots of Resilience project, the organizations and artists who were part of the Educational Programme organized local seminars to present the results of their projects and connect with their communities, policymakers and other interested audiences. In Passagem de Mariana, the cultural organization Clube Osquindô organized an event at Banda São Sebastião headquarters. Amongst many other issues, the audience raised a discussion on the importance of empowering culture as an economic activity in opposition to mining, which monopolizes the working perspectives for young people in Passagem de Mariana and other cities in the region. After the discussions, the organization presented the results of the Educational Programme in Passagem de Mariana, and Raed (the local Young Ambassador) presented his documentary "Para além das galerias" ("Beyond Galleries"), as a result of the Young Ambassador programme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Screening of 'VALE?' film |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | As part of the RoR research project, in 2023 we launched the documentary 'Vale?' directed by Marcelo Barbosa (Indianara, 2019. Mubi) and PPP's artistic director Paul Heritage. This is the first film in Brazil about the collapse of a mining dam that killed almost 300 people in Brumadinho, to focus on the impact of this tragedy on the arts and culture of this region. Its premier took place in the affected area of Minas Gerais with screenings in Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto and Brumadinho, and later in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and London, followed by a conversation about the crime. 26 people attended this screening of the film 'VALE?' during the visit of 4 professors from Loyola University (Chicago) who produce documentaries (and are interested in environmental issues). The film was shown alongside the documentary by Prof. Adriano de Medeiros from the Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP) Journalism course, "Today is still yesterday at Bento". Held at Cine Vila Rica, associated with UFOP. The screening sparked conversations with attendees about the crime and the context of the film, as well as engaging documentary makers who create films about environmental issues to spark interest in future projects. The event took place on 05/06/23. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://peoplespalaceprojects.org.uk/en/projects/roots-of-resilience/ |
| Description | Screening of 'VALE?' film |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The film was shown after an event involving embroiderers in the region, together with the film "Quilt of Patchwork", with the aim of socially contextualizing the region of Minas Gerais. The event was held at Cine Vila Rica, associated with UFOP (Federal University of Ouro Preto). The event took place on 27/05/23 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://peoplespalaceprojects.org.uk/en/projects/roots-of-resilience/ |
| Description | Screening of 'VALE?' film |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Premiere of "VALE?" in Rio de Janeiro. After the exhibition, participants engaged in a discussion that questioned how culture and artists can work in alliance with local communities in order to fight against the threats imposed by mining activities in Minas Gerais. Three of the five artists who were a part of the documentary were present on this event, contributing to the discussions that arose during the debate. This event took place on 24/05/23. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://peoplespalaceprojects.org.uk/en/projects/roots-of-resilience/ |
| Description | Seminar on Roots of resilience preliminary results |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An international seminar/webinar attended by partner organisations, policymakers, professional practitioners and an international on-line audience to discuss preliminary results and plan next steps for dissemination of research results. The activity enable for a broader engagement of local policymakers/stakeholders with the project and enable for a better understanding of the research team of next steps. A short report of preliminary results was produced for this activity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://peoplespalaceprojects.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/RoR-Short-report.pdf |
| Description | Talk for British Council's EUNIC delegation on Future Directions for UK Cultural Heritage and Climate Change Research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This was a discussing for representatives from British Council's Global Research and Insights Team, Cultural Heritage Protection Fund and attendees participating in the EUNIC delegation, which included head of the Maltese and Ukrainian Arts Council's. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Talk for QMUL's Policy Associates on Future Directions for UK Cultural Heritage and Climate Change Research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation for QMUL's Policy Associates on People's Palace Projects research and programme of work with the AHRC-DCMS on the future directions of UK cultural heritage and climate change research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Workshop Exploring AHRC-DCMS Cultural Heritage and Climate Change Portfolio |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Research team facilitated a workshop exploring research teams experiences of being part of AHRC-DCMS's Cultural Heritage and Climate Change portfolio. It also included explorations of potential future directions for UK research in this area and offered an opportunity for other research teams to present their research to policy-makers from DCMS and British Council. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |