Celebration brings together former participants of the institution, which has already assisted more than 23 thousand children and teenagers on the Brazil-Bolivia border
The Instituto Moinho Cultural Sul-Americano (South American Cultural Mill Institute) comes of age! To celebrate its 18th anniversary, the institution brings together former participants and guests for a special evening at the Centro de Convenções do Pantanal, next Saturday (26), starting at 7 pm.
The celebration of the institution’s 18th anniversary, which has already assisted more than 23 thousand children and teenagers on the Brazil-Bolivia border, will feature a special performance by pianist Araceli Chacon, made possible through the partnership with Acaia Pantanal. The Orquestra de Câmara do Pantanal (Pantanal Chamber Orchestra) and the Cia de Dança do Pantanal (Pantanal Dance Company), both born from Moinho Cultural’s work over the years, will also perform.
The executive director of Moinho Cultural, Márcia Rolon, states that more than 100 former participants are already confirmed among the graduates. “It’s a day of celebration. We’ve come of age, and that’s why we decided to hold this symbolic graduation, with the presence of men and women who came through here as children and teenagers. We are very proud of the story that Moinho and all our participants have built over these years,” she highlights.
Besides allowing thousands of children and teenagers access to art and culture through dance, music, technology, culture, and literacy classes, Moinho Cultural has also become part of each of their stories. One example is Brazilian Navy aviator Jorge Miguel Peçanha Zolabarrieta, 24 years old.
He joined Moinho Cultural at age 9, in 2007. He only left the institution in 2015, after completing the entire program, which lasts eight years. “It was at Moinho Cultural that I learned important values, made friendships that last to this day, and learned a profession, even though I don’t practice it today,” says the young man, who now lives in São Pedro da Aldeia (RJ).
Over the years, Moinho Cultural has also become more than just a chapter in the lives of many young people. The institution, besides taking part in their upbringing, is also, today, their workplace. Almost 30% of Moinho Cultural’s staff are former participants. “For us, this shows that we are on the right path. Having in our staff men and women who once studied with us just shows how much we offer solid and, truly, transformative training,” recalls Márcia Rolon.
Moinho Cultural was born in 2004, within the IHP (Instituto Homem Pantaneiro), and 10 years ago became independent. The institution started as Escola de Artes Moinho Cultural Sul-Americano, a project of IHP’s Sociocultural Center.
Five years ago, the Orquestra de Câmara do Pantanal and the Cia de Dança do Pantanal were created within Moinho Cultural. Since then, they have taken regional art to every corner of the country and also abroad, with performances in the United Arab Emirates and France.
The Instituto Moinho Cultural Sul-Americano
Moinho Cultural is a civil society organization that offers dance, music, technology, and computing classes to children and teenagers in situations of social vulnerability in Corumbá, Ladário, Puerto Suarez, and Puerto Quijarro. The continued training offered by the institution lasts up to eight years. Moinho also works on training performer-creators for young people and adults, through the Companhia de Dança do Pantanal, the Orquestra de Câmara do Pantanal, and the Technology Center. The institution’s mission is to reduce social vulnerability in the Brazil-Bolivia border region through access to cultural and technological assets. Since activities began, more than 23 thousand children and teenagers have been assisted by Moinho.
Currently, the Institute has master sponsorship via the Cultural Incentive Law from Instituto Cultural Vale, as well as sponsorship from Bellalluna Participações LTDA, BRINKS, BTG Pactual, CaraÍ Empreendimentos LTDA, COMPER, Instituto Itaú Cultural, HINOVE, Rodobens, and Criança Esperança, funding from the Government of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul through the Fundação de Cultura de Mato Grosso do Sul, in addition to the partnership with J.Macêdo, Itaú Social, and Fecomércio MS-SESC. And cultural support from Instituto FAR.
Institutional partners include the City Hall of Corumbá, City Hall of Ladário, City Hall of Puerto Suárez, City Hall of Puerto Quijarro, Instituto Homem Pantaneiro, IFMS, UFMS, Acaia Pantanal, and other individual and corporate donors.
