Largo das Artes is a nineteenth-century townhouse, that was in ruins 2000, was turned into a cultural building, through the concept and methodology of the development of spontaneous and transformative creativity, called Empty Space. It has hosted various projects and creative processe of arts, cultural and social transformations. The first where: Lia Rodrigues Dance Company, Lygia Veiga Cia of Mysteries and Spells, Ernesto Neto with his studio to assembly massive comissioned installations, and Panorama Festival.
In 2007, it was inaugurated the Largo das Artes contemporary art gallery, with exhibitions by Gabriela Machado and José Espaniol, Regina Silveira, Elisa Bracher, Malu Fatorelli, Vicente de Mello, Bruno Miguel, Maria Lynch, Maria Laet, among others.
In 2012, in partnership with BrazilFoundation, it has developed and presented a photographic project with 34 young people from the conflagrated communities of RJ, Providência, Fogueteiro, Prazeres, Chapéu Mangueira and Babilônia.
In January 2013 Largo das Artes was transformed into a contemporary art center, with gallery, courses, workshops and an artistic residency program associated with Espaço Vazio _ EV, having received approximately 100 resident artists, the vast majority internationals.
In October 2015, the non-profit Despina cultural association was created in Largo das Artes, with the purpose of continuing the Largo das Artes international residency program and facilitating the institutional reception of projects.
At the end of 2017 Despina separated from Largo das Artes and settled in a new address.
Today, Largo das Artes, in addition to its international residency program in partnership with Espaço Vazio_EV, has 10 workshops for local artists, 4 for resident artists, an exhibition gallery, a screening room and a studio with the production of documentaries and cinema. The activities carried out are focused on the following actions and proposals:
– Multidisciplinary space for production and exhibition of works, performances, installations, videos and docs.
– Facilitate experimentation and personal development through discussions between artists and the various disciplines complementary to artistic practice and culture.
– Expand access to contemporary art and the development of critical thinking about the personal, social and environmental process itself. – Contribute to the urban and cultural revitalization of the historic center of Rio de Janeiro.
EV_LARGO 