Project Kombi #55 wins Brasil Criativo Prize

To reduce the physical and social distance between Rio de Janeiro's favelas and its city centre and beaches, the traveling project Kombi #55 engages and encourages young artistst to bring their work, through exhibitions, festivals, discussions, concerts etc. around town.

The initiative, created by Ellen Sluis (NL) and Eddu Grau (BR), is part of the non-profit organization Barraco #55 in Rio de Janeiro. The general objective of Barraco #55 is to link and exchange local and external (outside the community) knowledge and culture in order to develop cultural projects, reveal and resolve issues and problems and to create an international network of professionals. The idea is to both seek popular mobilization through art and culture, and the transformation of a low-income area into an area of creation, innovation and cultural exchange.

Kombi #55 won this year's Prêmio Brasil Criativo or Creative Brazil Award in the category Intangible Heritage. The awards are an initiative of the Brazilian Ministry of Culture to stimulate the use of creativity in finding solutions to develop the creative economy of Brazil.

Sources: Catracra Livre and Barraco #55

More about the Prêmio Brasil Criativo (in Portuguese)