Bienal das Amazônias is an art institution, born in the Global South, whose premise is to shift the debate on the arts and their potential as a tool for generating economic and social transformation, away from the dominant axes of the art market, returning protagonism to the Amazon from the Amazon.
To this end, it develops programs that enable the amplification of themes relevant to the communities that make up this vast territory, always guided by gender equality, social justice, democratization of access to cultural assets, committed to the economically sustainable development of the region.
Bienal das Amazônias is driven by the desire to see the Amazon territory itself regain control over its narrative and its future, reflecting and amplifying the voices of institutions, organizations, groups, and individuals from the region. In addition to its biennial events, the Biennial carries out sociocultural initiatives through activities developed at its Cultural Center and by supporting other projects and artists. These initiatives aim to strengthen the plural identity of the Amazon and encourage its inhabitants to express themselves authentically, fostering an ongoing dialogue between diverse social and artistic actors. The stronger we are locally, the more we will be heard and respected globally.
The Centro Cultural Bienal das Amazônias (CCBA) is an important space located in the historic center of Belém, the capital of Pará, Brazil. The building, which once belonged to a department store, sits on the corner of Manoel Barata and Campos Sales streets and is open to the community with a variety of free artistic, cultural, and educational programs . These include art exhibitions, workshops, lectures, immersion sessions, concerts, theater performances, and other programs that express the diversity and symbolism of the Brazilian and international Amazon.
Spanning over eight thousand square meters, the CCBA houses a café, a shop, multipurpose rooms, and a library for public reference. The entire space is adapted for accessibility , with elevators, ramps, escalators, signage, accessible restrooms, and an emergency public address system.
The building hosted the first edition of the Bienal das Amazônias , from August to November 2023, featuring works by 123 artists from all the Amazonian states. Artists and collectives from eight Pan-Amazonian countries, as well as French Guiana, participated. Now, the space is preparing to host the second edition of the Amazon Biennial in the second half of 2025.
The CCBA also has an artistic residency program , whose objective is to foster cultural, pedagogical, artistic and curatorial creation, promoting the exchange of experiences and the development of innovative projects in the Amazon.
Source: www.bienalamazonias.com.br