The revitalization of the Unicamp Arena Theater has been completed, including both its roof and artistic interventions on site. The Arena Theater is located in the Ciclo Básico square, a central meeting point for the university community of the city. campus from Campinas. According to Talita Mendes, advisor to the Executive Board of Integrated Planning at Unicamp, in addition to being an important place for sociability, the Arena Theater provides artistic interventions. The demand for the revitalization of the space came from the academic community. “Many years ago there was a feeling among the community that the theater could be maximized and its area revitalized,” she notes.
Still in 2020, given the possibilities of resuming in-person activities, the management of the Institute of Arts requested the use of the location for collective and practical classes, with necessary adjustments to enable sanitary measures, such as due distancing. It was also requested that a cover be created for the theater, in order to enable its use in rain or shine. Having gone through the administrative flow followed by all works at Unicamp, studies began, in partnership with the Project Coordination of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urbanism at Unicamp, and then the contracting of the project.
The roof of the Arena Theater was made with thermoacoustic tiles, considering durability, cost, maintenance and comfort for the community. The total amount invested in the project and work was R$1,5 million. The work included the revitalization of the water reservoir pipes under the theater's stands, responsible for supplying 50% of the water in the theater. campus. “It is good to clarify that the Arena Theater will remain a space for common use by the university community, not being part of the buildings of the Institute of Arts, but with a preferential agenda for its classes and academic activities”, notes Talita.
IA also developed a proposal for artistic intervention at the site, inviting artists from outside the University recognized for their work in mural painting and graffiti. “The search for these artists began with the suggestion of the theme in the axis of Africanities, with professor Sylvia Furegatti leading this entire process”. A group of four black artists with activities linked to ethnic-racial issues were responsible for the artistic interventions. They are: Helio Souza (Cabelin); Diógenes Moura; Leandro Ferreira dos Santos (Kranium) and Edson Xis.
Check out photos from the Arena Theater reopening ceremony that took place on Monday (18/10):
