Reading the August issue of Trace magazine I was blown away by a project called Favela Painting Project run by Dutch artists, Jeroen Koolhas and Dre Urhahn of the Firmeza Foundation.
The Project aims to produce art work in places where people are left socially excluded, such as the many favelas (slums) found in and around Rio de Janeiro. Around one 5th of Rio's population live in some 700 favelas.
Jeroen and Dre collaborate with the local community to find a painting that the community as whole can take pride in. By teaching the local children different painting techniques the organizations hopes to keep the kids out of reach of the local drug lords.
The organisation hopes to fight social exclusion, combat prejudice, contribute to the education of the local youth, create sustainable solutions and attract the art worlds attention.
The Favela Painting Project finished it's first major artwork in 2007 in one of Rio's most notorious favelas, Villa Cruzeiro entitled
'Kid with Kite'.
visit Favela Painting to find out more about the project and how you can support the cause.
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