Presentation of the Anti-Racist Handbook for Arts and Education

The Anti-Racist Handbook for the Arts and Education arose in response to the need to challenge thinking and practices in the fields of art and education. In this session, Dori Nigro and Raquel Lima from UNA – União Negra das Artes collective Black will share with the audience their ongoing process of creating this handbook. Above all, it seeks to be a hopeful, anti-racist and critical resource that builds bridges between art and education.

Dori Nigro is a creator, performer, arts educator and researcher who studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Porto and the College of Arts at the University of Coimbra. Since 2007, he has dedicated himself to interdisciplinary artistic practices. He holds a PhD, a Master’s degree and a specialisation in contemporary art, artistic practices, and art and education. He also has a degree in pedagogy and a bachelor’s degree in social communication and photography. He divides his time between Portugal and Brazil, where he promotes collaborative activities with local artists and communities. Alongside Paulo Pinto, he runs LÁRoyé, a house and studio dedicated to emotional, creative and ancestral sharing. There, they develop research and creations in the fields of artistic practice and art/education. He is also a member of the Black Arts Union (UNA).

Raquel Lima is a poet, art educator, performer, essayist and transdisciplinary artist. She has a degree in Artistic Studies (Performing Arts) and is a PhD researcher in Postcolonial Studies. Her particular interests include oral tradition, intergenerational memory, Afro-diasporic movements, and contemporary practices of escapism, abstraction, and healing. She has presented her academic and artistic work in several countries, notably at the Venice and São Paulo Biennials. Bantumen magazine has elected her as one of the 100 most influential black personalities in the Portuguese-speaking world, and she has co-founded the cultural association União Negra das Artes (UNA).

The União Negra das Artes (Black Arts Union) is a cultural association that emerged from the anti-racist movement and affirmation of Black identity in Portugal. It emphasises the various manifestations and debates surrounding the demand for human rights, decolonisation of knowledge and appreciation of the artistic and cultural legacy of Black people. Founded in April 2021, the association was established in response to the need for a structure that defends the specific interests of black people in the cultural sector. This is due to the historical continuities of colonial racism that maintain deep asymmetries and hinder creation, enjoyment, access, production, programming, and consequently, black representation in the arts sector in Portugal. The association’s main objectives are to promote, elevate and strengthen black representation in the Portuguese arts, and to recognise and value the intangible heritage of black people in Portugal. The association aims to contribute to the development of reparative policies and affirmative action measures in the arts and culture in collaboration with artists, social movements, and public and private entities.