The Transformation of Rio’s Favelas
Favelas first appeared in Rio in the 19th century where they were built by soldiers with nowhere to live. Also called “barrios Africanos,” the favelas were home to former slaves with no claim to land or work. Then came the 1970’s when the migration of people from the deep countryside came to Rio to find work, finding themselves encamped in crowded and increasingly dangerous communities without sanitation, running water, or protection. Cities within the city, favelas have long been considered off limits. But with recent movements to “pacify” these areas through social change, many favelas have become more self-sustaining and productive. With running water, electricity, and other services, Rio’s municipal government is also putting in place green initiatives that are changing the face of these inner city areas. With approximately 763 favelas providing homes for over 1.4 million people, they provide a vital picture of a city that is known for diversity and flavor. Santa Marta is one of the best known favelas in Rio de Janeiro. When Spike Lee filmed Michael Jackson’s 1996 video for “They Don’t Care About Us” community pride coupled with this vibrant view of favela life started a positive chain reaction. This included the Favela Painting Art Project, inspired by the Dutch team Haas & Haan, inspiring locals to paint their homes in bright colors. Santa Model serves as a model for other favelas, with its new houses and free tram, along with its famous Michael Jackson statue. With local artisans contributing to this colorful community, Santa Marta is one of the main stops for tourists interested in becoming acquainted with the many facets of Rio de Janeiro. Vidigal is another favela favored by tour groups. With spectacular views over the Atlantic Ocean, the community now offers a beautiful walking trail for taking it all in, as well as guesthouses (pousadas), restaurants, clubs, and bars inside the favela itself. At Toca Events, we enjoy visiting the bohemian Santa Teresa district where artists and young locals provide a tangible excitement that is contagious. At TOCA Events, we are excited to be a part of creating a positive consciousness about these neighborhoods by sharing a new perspective on favela culture. Offering tours to view life in these neighborhoods is one way we help to open up communication and awareness. Recently our Director of Brand Interface, Fabio Pamplona, did a fashion shoot in one of Rio’s favelas, celebrating the spirit of the people. With Rio’s efforts to create a greener city through incentives such as reforestation to lower greenhouse gasses and attract more birds, the city has also created the “Morar Carioca Program” in the South Zone favelas of Bablilonia and Chapeu Mangueria. Encouraging sustainable buildings and other green solutions, these areas are helping to encourage eco-tourism and micro-industries that provide residents and visitors with a higher level of exchange. With holistic urban planning, favela infrastructure is improving, with better zoning and upgrades. Rio expects that by 2020 all of the favelas will benefit, meaning that a whopping 232,000 households will be affected! Visiting Favelas has become a big part of Rio’s tourism, especially since 2013 when the city’s tourism minister expanded plans to help residents develop new skills as a response to outside visitors. Government intervention has helped to expand resources, providing residents with more opportunities to work, live, and raise their families in a environment that supports a better quality of life. As an event production company always keen on providing our clients with creative options, TOCA Events is proud of every aspect of culture in Rio de Janeiro. In this spirit, our destination management team provides exciting tours of the city’s favelas as a compliment to your event. www.tocaevents.com
Gallery Weekend in Berlin
Back in the 1920’s, Berlin was the unequivocal capital of arts and culture in Germany. Movements like Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity) and Secession, along with artists such as Max Beckmann, Käthe Kollwitz, and Edvard Munch, were a part of a scene that drew some of the most innovative creators into the city’s arms. Then came the long years during and after the war until the 1970’s and 80’s brought attention to art once again with an energy that included West Berlin’s Junge Wilde (Young and Wild movement). Since the Berlin wall fell in 1989, the city has enjoyed yet another Renaissance, with artists flocking from all over the world to experiment, show their work, and find inspiration from an atmosphere so open to creation and acquisition. From painting, to sculpture, photography, performance art, and installations, there is a constant buzz around the ongoing exhibitions, biennials, art trade shows, and grand events like the Documenta show in Kassel, which takes place every five years. In Berlin there is a huge opportunity for collectors, curators, and visitors to take in a scene that is intense, alive, and always evolving. Supporting the scene are an enormous quantity of exhibition spaces that include former factories, breweries, churches, boiler rooms, tower blocks, and office buildings that have been converted into galleries and work and living spaces for artists. Many of the spaces that were vacated by businesses after the wall came down became available for use through the initiative of organizations like Kulturwerk and the Berlin Senate. This unprecedented support for artists is what makes Berlin so unique. With over 150 not-for-profit and self-funded artists’ spaces all over the city, it is no wonder that Berlin is a mecca for artists who cannot afford to create work in other renowned cities across the globe. Current statistics say that there are over 20,000 international artists now living in Berlin. Grant programs to support studios are prevalent, giving way to more than 830 subsidized artists’ studios and studio apartments. With excellent grants, such as the DAAD artists program and Kunstlerhaus Bethaniene, international artists can get assistance for coming to the city to both create and show their work. The National Galerie is another supporter of contemporary art, giving prizes to young artists since 2000. Art collectors in Berlin also do their part to help to create studio spaces in obscure spaces, such as abandoned crematoria and even a former Communist party carpark. Putting their private collections on public display, may of these collectors create exciting events, such as Christian Boros’ show that was housed in a former WWII bunker. Another exciting venue is in the Hamberger Bahnhof where Heiner Bastian’s collection features works from the “art brut” movement, including pieces by Joseph Beuys, Damien Hurst, Anselm Kiefer and more. As a center for contemporary art, one feels a special vitality in the air, with a youthful and vigorous scene that is a given for a city that prides itself on a sophisticated forward-mindedness. There are a plethora of galleries in Berlin neighborhoods such as Mitte, Kreuzberg, Potsdammer Strasse, Charlottenburg, and even various apps like EyeOut Berlin and INDEX Berlin that follow the art trends throughout city. The 11th Gallery Weekend Berlin begins on April 30 and runs through May 4. Founded as a private initiative amongst local Berlin galleries, this year has 47 of them exhibiting works from both new and established artists. http://www.gallery-weekend-berlin.de/ www.tocaevents.com