The Skateroom and French street artist JR

In response to the question of whether or not art can change the world, the social enterprise called The Skateroom supports young people in disadvantaged zones all over the world through a unique combination of art and skateboarding, and this time they've joined forces with the French street artist JR, famous for his viral murals.


The social enterprise, The Skateroom and the French street artist, JR have teamed up to launch a new edition supporting the Favela initiative.
The Brazilian favelas were originally constructed in the late 1800s by Brazilian soldiers waiting for their wages following the Canudos War. When the government failed to pay, this makeshift accommodation became permanent.  The favelas still exist today and are where severe poverty and crime are the order of the day. Of course, the violence of drug warfare and the economic disparity they have endured over time give them a tarnished image.
In an attempt to take some of the pressure off these communities, The Skateroom will use its engaged business model to raise funds and support two social projects: Casa Amarela and Coletivo Skate Maré in Maré, a neighbourhood and favela in Rio de Janeiro. 
The Skateroom is kicking off its support initiative by joining forces with renowned international artist, JR. The Skateroom’s art editions will feature JR’s iconic work on the Louvre Museum and the initiative also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the museum’s glass pyramid, designed by Chinese-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei, the symbol of the French museum and a landmark in Paris itself.
Casa Amarela is a house at the top of a favela in Rio de Janeiro used as a community centre for its inhabitants and it was founded by the artist JR. Through partnerships with local NGOs and residents of the favela, the spaces are used for art workshops, and also offer cultural field trips in addition to languages, photography, theatre, yoga, dance classes and more. The vision of Casa Amarela is to improve the lives of Morro da Providencia’s inhabitants through art culture and education. It provides a way to tackle social exclusion and empower children and adults to build on their potential and foster future opportunities. On the other hand, Coletivo Skate Maré is a grass-roots 100% volunteer collective of skateboarders who have been promoting and developing skateboarding in the Maré favela since 2012.
The main purpose of the initiative is to build a permanent skatepark in the favela, to give youth a safe space where they can express themselves. Through skateboarding, these kids will learn to develop their skills and their confidence and be empowered to pursue better opportunities.
Like in the past (link), The Skateroom will turn over 30% of its revenues to support both projects in the Maré favela in Rio de Janeiro to give these communities hope for a better future. So, their answer to the question “Can art really change the world?” is a resounding yes.

Christiane Bürklein

Project: The Skateroom (https://theskateroom.com/) with JR (https://www.jr-art.net/)
Year: 2019
Images: courtesy of The Skateroom