Art, Culture, Memories and Identities HERBERT VIANNA CULTURAL ARENINHA

FACILITY

The partnership of culture and art with education

The Herbert Vianna Cultural Areninha was inaugurated in 2009, in Maré, by the Municipal Secretariat of Culture of Rio de Janeiro, in co-management with Redes da Maré, becoming a reference in the Maré Favela Complex, both as a living and rich cultural and leisure facility for the residents of the territory, and as a space for building a policy that brings together culture, art and education.

Located at the meeting point of the communities Baixa do Sapateiro, Nova Holanda and Nova Maré, Areninha attracts residents of different ages and areas, breaking invisible, but enormous, barriers of circulation between the favelas.

The Arena space also includes Jorge Amado Library, dedicated to forming readers of all ages, with a collection of more than 5,000 books and regular activities such as art workshops, storytelling, meetings with writers and reading clubs. The space was completely renovated in 2025 and received new furniture suited to the height of small readers. In addition, there is work to build a collection with contemporary titles to provide the experience of an updated catalog.

The work carried out by Redes da Maré experiments with a model of equipment focused on art education and cultural production for children and adolescents, strengthening youth protagonism, expanding perceptions of art, culture and the occupation of public space, and valuing local knowledge.

Areninha offers a free and diverse program, attracting about 1,600 spectators each month to shows ranging from rock to metal, samba circles, forró, carnival bloco, film screenings, cineclub, June festivals, children’s shows, theater and musicals, holiday camps, as well as classes, courses and daily cultural activities for the local population. Among them, the highlights are skate, capoeira, theater, socio-environmental education, visual arts/coexistence and cultural entrepreneurship workshops (cultural production, sound and lighting techniques, DJ and photography).

In 2023, the Arena underwent an important restructuring through the Municipal Secretariat of Culture’s recovery program for cultural tents (“Culture of Tomorrow”) in Rio de Janeiro.

THE HERBERT VIANNA CULTURAL ARENINHA OPERATES ON FOUR WORK FRONTS:

Reading encouragement

Through the Jorge Amado Municipal Library, we seek to strengthen reading encouragement and access to books from the perspective of a popular library. To do so, this work front bets on territorialization and community articulation. In addition to literary activities and events, it works in partnership with public schools, local institutions, artists and literary collectives focused on continuous work with children and adolescents, encouraging their connection with books and strengthening rights, autonomy and dreams.

Art-Education

Regular art education, popular education and sports activities aimed at children, adolescents and adults are offered through this work front. We seek to maintain a fixed and circulating audience, stimulating individual development, contact with various artistic languages and circulation in the city’s cultural spaces. The actions strengthen exchanges among residents of the Maré Favela Complex, uniting formal and popular education through art and culture.

Cultural production and dissemination

A multicultural space, it produces and offers events and shows in various artistic languages, strengthening local artists and cultural producers. It acts as a space for enjoyment, dissemination, exchange and training, articulating especially with Maré residents for workshops, presentations, residencies and musical events. It also promotes debates on race, gender and LGBTQIAP+ issues and welcomes proposals from artists from other regions, encouraging cultural encounters and exchanges.

Community development, race and territory

We value dialogue with the territory and its participation in the democratic construction of the Herbert Vianna Cultural Areninha and the Jorge Amado Library. The focus is on community development, reducing inequalities and access to rights, in articulation with public and social organizations. The articulation includes an advisory council with children and adults and the mobilization of strategic actors to address structural issues in the territory collectively.

MAIN EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

• Sextas na Areninha (Fridays at the Arena): the project, supported by the ISS Law, brings together entrepreneurs and artists from Maré and includes the Cultural Production course, strengthening the protagonism of artists and cultural creators from favelas and peripheries; allowing permanent and continuous programming of the Arena throughout the year.

• Cine Rabiola: monthly film screenings for children and youth. Programming information is available on social media.

• Areninha goes out: activity that strengthens circulation, the right to the city, and access to cultural spaces such as museums, parks, circuses, beaches, and theaters for visitors of the Herbert Vianna Cultural Areninha.

• "Pelos acessos": activity for children and adolescents aimed at promoting circulation inside the Maré territory, seeking to break symbolic boundaries; the action encourages encounters among different local actors to broaden awareness and knowledge about what is produced in the territory while supporting the construction of life projects.

• Favela Rock: rock festival held at the Arena, aimed at strengthening the alternative rock scene in the territory.

• Free Music Areninha: events that aim to strengthen diverse music scenes in Maré, such as samba, black music, rap, pop, funk etc.

• Other performances: hosting cultural shows and events in partnership with artists, encompassing multiple performing arts languages.

• Herbert Vianna Cultural Areninha Gallery: throughout the year, the gallery exhibits shows featuring painting, photography, drawing, printmaking, and collage works by artists from within and outside Maré. In 2025, the gallery joined the ArtRio circuit.

Follow Herbert Vianna Cultural Arena's programming on Facebook and Instagram.

WATCH OUR WORKSHOPS’ VIDEOS

Semana do Meio ambiente

Biblioteca Jorge Amado | 20 anos

Slipmami na Areninha

MAIN PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES

#Jorge Amado Municipal Library – located inside the annex building of the Arena, it hosts a reading and activity space with a collection of more than 5,000 books available for loan and consultation. It is one of the few Arenas in the municipality with an active library, a true gathering place. Instagram: @bibliotecamunicipaljorgeamado

#Author/Book of the Week: – A conversation about reading, books, and authors – an initiative of the Jorge Amado Library to bring children closer to writers. This activity also promotes meetings with authors from the territory to give visibility to their work, strengthen representation and local artistic inspiration, and amplify literary production in favela territories.

#Maré Longboard Workshop – held in partnership with the Maré Longboard collective, which works to expand the potential of adolescents and young people in the Maré Favela Complex and, through skate and longboard workshops, bring topics such as urban mobility, access to the city, rights, and urban arts into the conversation. Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m. – age range: 10 to 16.

#Maré de Capoeira – an initiative of the Arena with the Maré de Capoeira collective, which aims to expand children’s motor, cognitive, musical, and social potential through playful capoeira and popular culture activities. Classes are always an opportunity to discuss racial relations and the appreciation of Afro-Brazilian culture. Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – age range: 6 to 10.

In the territorial development area, the Herbert Vianna Cultural Arena counts on 23 partners from the Maré Favela Complex. In addition to coordinating actions with collectives, local schools, health facilities, the Social Assistance Reference Center serving residents, and the Maré Olympic Village, it also builds partnerships with other organizations such as Residents’ Associations, Luta pela Paz, and Observatório de Favelas. During the pandemic, it served as an operational base for local mobilizations like Conexão Saúde and Vacina Maré, facilitating covid-19 testing and mass vaccination.

Areninha is also a development space for other Redes da Maré projects, such as:

#Not One Less - an Education Axis project that strengthens non- formal education actions, offering daily literacy, robotics, and music workshops, and supporting children who are out of school or struggling to return. The purpose is to reinforce ties among students, families, and public schools in the region. Activities include robotics classes, pedagogical support, art education, and digital literacy.

#Write your Future - an Education Axis project offering Youth and Adult Education (EJA) for those who did not have access to schooling at the appropriate age or were unable, for various reasons, to continue in elementary or high school.

#Maré of Rights - a Right to Public Security and Access to Justice Axis project offering support and assistance through free consultations with lawyers, social workers, and psychologists. Residents can be served in person through distributed tickets on designated days and times and also receive support via Redes da Maré WhatsApp: 55 21 99924 6462.

Free service: Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Nova Maré)

More information is available at the front desk Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Team

Coordination: Dayana Sabany and Yannick Camenha

Production: Maria Lethícia Barcellos

Financial management: Sandra Ciqueira

Administrative librarian: Sandra Santos

Reception: Bruno Landy and Vanussa Rodrigues

Pedagogical assistant: Larissa Cunha

Communication assistant: Brenda Cristiny

Support: Paulo Ronaldo

Workshop instructors: Carlos Eduardo, Celso Candido, Rudson Bigode, Raquel Marreiro and Sandra Santos

Supporting Partner

City of Rio – Municipal Secretariat of Culture

Project: Sextas na Areninha

Sponsorship:

Gávea Logística

Seagems

Institutional and Local Partners

Residents’ Associations of the 15 favelas of Maré

4th Regional Education Coordination (4th CRE)

Coletivo Entidades

School of Visual Arts of Parque Lage

People's Palace Projects

Prudential

Vila Olímpica da Maré

Address

Ivanildo Alves St., s/nº – Nova Maré

Phone: 55 21 3105-6815

Opening Hours

Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Areninha Contact

Email: areninhaherbertvianna@redesdamare.org.br

Redes da Maré WhatsApp: (21) 99924-6462

Facebook: @AreninhaCulturalDaMare

Instagram: @Areninhadamare

The Areninha has a space for rehearsals and events for artists and collectives. Just contact the team.

HIGHLIGHTS

2025

In addition to inaugurating the Jorge Amado Municipal Library, the Herbert Vianna Cultural Arena stage hosted events of different styles and formats, forming diverse programming for all audiences in Maré. Music shows, theater, exhibitions, reading circles, storytelling, and book launches. The Arena was also one of the 12 facilities in Maré that hosted the WOW – Women of the World Festival.

2024

Installation of a biodigester and socio-environmental training with Lutxs/UFRJ; implementation of the Paixão de Ler project with the participation of seven local artists; revival of historical events: Samba da Areninha (Nova Raiz) and FavelaRock (Rockeiras de Favela); strengthening relations with the LGBTQIAP+ scene.

2023

Despite challenges caused by construction work, the public continued to attend the Arena throughout the year: there were 18,771 visits in 2023. Three Redes da Maré projects – Not One Less, Write your Future, and Maré of Rights – continued providing services at the site.

The Jorge Amado Reading Space also underwent expansion and improvement and was reopened as the Jorge Amado Municipal Library. In addition to hosting performances, the project values local knowledge and works in articulation with 22 partners from Maré.

2022

Beginning of the restoration of the Arena, with the replacement of the old cover by thermoacoustic material, allowing climate control and noise reduction, as well as improving accessibility.

In 2022, the Arena hosted major performances and cultural activities through municipal public calls, such as a concert by singer Alcione and a show by the award-winning puppet theater group Giramundo. A partnership with the School of Visual Arts of Parque Lage conducted visual arts workshops.

2021

COVID-19 testing in partnership with Fiocruz, SAS Brasil, and Conexão Saúde at the Arena space | Launch of the skate workshop with Maré Longboard | Affective cartography workshop with “Rolé Carioca” | Children’s participation in writing children’s books for the “Writers for the Future” project in partnership with the Lima Barreto Popular Library | First virtual Favela Rock held with the band Maré Juanita, in an incredible live celebrating International Rock Day, reaching more than 650 views.

2020

Virtual workshops through the Arena’s social media and support for the “Maré Says NO to Coronavirus” campaign | Live streaming and support for local artists writing project submissions | Continuation of partnerships with the Not One Less project and artist Laura Taves, producing and installing a tile panel painted by children, as well as word search activities and video calls on COVID-19 prevention with participants and educators from Not One Less, production of the music video “Chega de racismo,” among other actions.

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2019

Capoeira and Percussion workshops, in addition to regular actions in partnership with Not One Less; continuity of partnership with the School of Visual Arts of Parque Lage with cultural exchanges; beginning of women’s literacy; highlight for the popular culture meeting with presentations by local groups.

2018

Regular Not One Less workshops. Highlight for the ongoing Favela Rock event. Art and education actions with children with artist Rita Wainer; October Journeys in partnership with EAV; creation of the “Leite de Pedra” art intervention with Matheus Rocha Pitta.

2012 - 2017

Favela Rock Show with the bands Forfun, Korzus, Confronto, Drenna, Facção Caipira, Nove Zero Nove. Maré de Verão with Tambores de Olokun, Agytoê, Orquestra Voadora, Maracutaia, Cordão do Boitatá, Coletivo Pernaltas.

2012 - 2017

Maré de Verão with Tambores de Olokun, Agytoê, Orquestra Voadora, Maracutaia, Cordão do Boitatá, Pernaltas Collective;