Culture without boundaries: ‘Virada Cultural’ extends to the fringes of São Paulo

The Purpose
The city looked to address the historical inequity in access to cultural provision in São Paulo, particularly in peripheral areas of the city. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified these challenges. The municipality sought to address this issue by using the return of major festivals, specifically the Virada Cultural, as an opportunity to drive cultural engagement and widen access to culture in the city.

The Challenge
São Paulo has a historically uneven distribution of cultural services, a lack of cultural infrastructure, and limited transport networks in peripheral areas. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these challenges, leading to the closure of venues, reduced mobility, and unequal access to digital platforms.

The festival involved over 300 performances in 96 locations, attracting over 3.1 million attendees.

The Solution
The solution was Virada Cultural, an annual event launched in 2005, which takes place across two days and is free for everyone. The event is decentralised, with stages set up not only in the city centre but also in peripheral areas, where well-known artists perform. The program includes live music, gastronomy, exhibitions, performances and children’s entertainment. The festival is managed by the Municipal Secretariat of Culture of São Paulo, in cooperation with other key stakeholders, including SPTuris, Cultural Houses, Unified Education Centers (CEUs), and other cultural facilities. The festival involves artists and arts institutions from across the city.

The Impact
The 2022 edition of the Virada Cultural took place in eight districts across the city, including peripheral areas. The festival involved over 300 performances in 96 locations, attracting over 3.1 million attendees. The festival intentionally included programming to engage marginalised groups, such as the LGBTQIA+ community. The success of the festival has led to it being perceived as the Belonging Festival and the Accessibility Festival, signifying its impact and the program’s future direction.

Source: World Cities Culture Report 2022

Images Courtesy © City of São Paulo