Rio de Janeiro gains this Saturday (27) a cultural center focused on LGBTQIAPN+ artistic production. This is QueeRIOca, the first community art and culture reference center in Brazil.
The project was born during the Covid-19 pandemic, conceived by the actress and founder of the theater company Os Dezequilibrados, Cristina Flores and her wife, screenwriter, writer, composer and actress Laura Castro.
Before the pandemic, the two had opened a space called Jardim, on the terrace of the house where they lived. But with the pandemic, it closed.
But as the two were very connected with the LGBTQIAPN+ community and, also, thinking about how they could do art and culture and connect with people, they began to develop QueeRIOca as something they could do at home, safely, as an artistic residency. , to invite some artists to exchange experiences in videos, podcasts and at the same time welcome people.
The project was included in the first Foca – Fomento à Cultura Carioca notice, from Rio City Hall, and came in second place, which did not allow for funding for its development.
With the end of the pandemic, the city hall launched the Reviver Cultural Centro Project. “Then, we rethought QueeRIOca to take place in a public space, in the center of Rio de Janeiro, in a historic mansion, but with the concept of being an open space for the production of LGBTQIAPN+ artists, for artistic residencies and exchanges in that sense” , explained Laura.
The first exhibition of the multilingual space for visual arts exhibitions, called DifferBETWEENwill open this Saturday, at 12pm, bringing together 32 artists.
Laura Castro (e) and Cristina Flores (d) created QueeRIOca – Photo: Ana Alexandrino
Zélia Duncan
The music space will pay tribute to singer, composer and writer Zélia Duncan, who will perform at 9pm with Ana Costa, in a samba circle.
The theater space, with a multipurpose room, will also feature film screenings and parties. The theater will open at 6pm, with the play by Zélia Duncan, I go, with actress Cristina Flores. This is the first time the play will be performed live. At the film club, the short film will be shown A wild patience brought me hereby director Èrica Sarmet, in which Zélia Duncan also acts.
From 11pm onwards, a party will take place to celebrate the opening of the space.
Another important space, as highlighted by Laura Castro, is Livraria Pulsa, the first to specialize in LGBTQIAPN+ authors, and not just in titles linked to the cause. “Pulsa was an itinerant bookstore, which was once located at the São Paulo Museum of Art (Masp), at Aterro do Flamengo and, now, is moving to a physical and fixed space, here at QueeRIOca”.
The bookstore will open at 4pm, with a book signing for Zélia Duncan, Blessed things I don’t know.
The tribute to multi-artist Zélia Duncan is explained by her being a person aware of all the necessary struggles in Brazil, said Laura. “I think it’s very important for her to be here, joining us, on this opening Saturday.”
The 200 square meter space is located in a 19th century colonial mansion, in Travessa do Comércio, in the historic Arco do Teles, right next to Praça XV, in the center of Rio de Janeiro. QueeRIOca aims to be the newest LGBTQIAPN+ meeting point in the capital of Rio de Janeiro. It will be open from Wednesday to Friday, from 4pm to midnight; on Saturdays, from 11am to 5am; and, on Sundays, from 2pm to midnight. The capacity is for 200 seats.
The book launch and the show are free and open to public participation. The film and play will be occupied on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to capacity, although they will also be open to the public. “There is a distribution of passwords 1 hour in advance”, informed Laura Castro.
To participate in the party, a popular price of R$20 was set.
