Solidarity Art Projects Emerge During Quarantine in Brazil

Following mandatory quarantine measures announced by Brazil's Health and Justice ministries on March 17, the art market shifted to virtual platforms. In response, several solidarity initiatives were launched by galleries, curators, and artists. The OÁ Solidária project, initiated by Galeria OÁ in Vitória, donates 100% of sales from participating artists to the SECRI community service, which supports 270 vulnerable youth in the São Benedito neighborhood. The Quarantine project operates as a sales cooperative involving about forty-five artists, with proceeds equally divided among participants and donated to Casa Chama, a São Paulo-based civil and cultural organization supporting trans people. The 300 Desenhos project, conceived by Erika Verzutti and Fernanda Brenner, involves 368 artists and 273 donors contributing R$1000 for randomly assigned drawings, with funds directed to APIB, CUFA, and Habitat organizations. This model has been replicated in Peru as Dibujos por la Amazonia, coordinated by curator Miguel Lopez. Thais Hilal of Galeria OÁ and Cristiana Tejo of Quarantine both emphasize the need for structural change in the art world's social role.