The Favela Climate Memory exhibition is an innovative project developed collectively by the Sustainable Favela Network (SFN). Through community knowledge, it documents the relationship between climate change and favelas, based on the testimonies of ten round tables held in Rio de Janeiro favelas (2023-2024). Organized by 11 museums and memory collectives within the SFN, the exhibition highlights how these communities view, resist, and propose solutions to environmental challenges. The exhibition aims to widely share community knowledge gathered in Rio’s favelas, connecting generations to preserve and elevate community wisdom in addressing climate change. As a groundbreaking initiative, it is creating a replicable methodological framework for documenting climate memories.
The Exhibition is a physical installation (documentary, banners, interactive timeline, map, “memory well”), resulting from oral histories gathered by these groups through 1,145 testimonials by 382 participants of discussion circles in 10 favelas (including the 3 largest, some marked by severe climate, climate-displacement and solutions). The discussion circle forma was chosen by members of the Climate Memory Working Group because of its nature as a space that fosters the collective construction of knowledge and mutual understanding. Four themes guided the reflections in these meetings: What is climate change?; How did the occupation occur, and what is the relationship between the territory and climate/nature?; How do climate and environmental issues interact with the right and access to housing?; What knowledge has the community already developed to respond to the challenges posed by nature and climate?
About the Exhibition
It features a wide range of materials, counting with 13 banners that tell the story of the exhibition and highlight powerful quotes from each of the ten major climate memory circles held by the community museums and memory projects behind the initiative.
At the heart of the exhibition is an extensive timeline featuring 60 panels, built from dates identified during the climate memory circles held in the ten participating favelas: the three largest favelas in the city (Rocinha, Rio das Pedras, and Complexo da Maré); those marked by severe climate impacts (Acari, Vidigal, and Pavão-Pavãozinho/Cantagalo); others that became destinations for climate-displaced populations (Antares and City of God); and communities with standout projects for coexisting with nature (Horto and Complexo da Penha). The colors of the panels reflect the community that contributed each historical record: blue tones represent the city’s North Zone, earth tones the South Zone, and green tones the West Zone. In chronological order, the timeline presents key events in the histories of the favelas—and, in effect, of the entire city—from the 16th century to 2024.
At the center of the installation is the “Well of Memories,” where visitors can handle 265 captioned photos from the participating favelas.
The exhibition amplified favela voices on climate change, creating a replicable model for community-led climate memory documentation, strengthening local resilience. The project fostered intergenerational knowledge exchange and has the power to influence policies with grassroots perspectives.
Watch the documentary “Favela Climate Memory” with English Subtitles, Featured in the Exhibition:
Photographs of the circles at each museum/memory collective
2024: Alfazendo | Serra da Misericórdia Integration Center | Horto Museum | Fala Akari | Conexões Periféricas
Available Materials and Interactions
Banners (13): Size: 90x120cm
Banner Content:
Curatorial Text
Climate Memory Circles 2023 and 2024
Climate Memory Circle at the Maré Museum
Climate Memory Circle at the Favela Museum
Climate Memory Circle at the Sankofa Museum in Rocinha
Climate Memory Circle at the NOPH in Antares
Climate Memory Circle at the Vidigal Memory Center
Climate Memory Circle in the City of God in Alfazendo
Climate Memory Circle at the Horto Museum
Climate Memory Circle in Rio das Pedras in Conexões Periféricas
Climate Memory Circle in Penha in the Serra da Misericórdia Integration Center
Climate Memory Circle in Acari in Fala Akari
Timeline (60): Size: 50x100cm
60 plaques from the 16th century to 2024, with colors identifying the reference community among the 10 that participated in the research.
The timeline can be held by bamboo clotheslines with sisal rope (3m high) on iron supports, forming pentagons with 5 plaques between each clothesline and the next.
Well of Memories
Handcrafted well made by artisan Evânia de Paula (Núcleo de Memórias do Vidigal).
Includes over 265 numbered historical photographs of the 10 communities included, ready to be handled, with descriptions on the back.
Size: 2.10m high by 1.10m wide
Located in the middle of the timeline.
Interactive map produced by artisan Marli Damascena (Maré Museum)
Size: 120x200cm.
Canvas map with colored lines demarcating 10 planning areas of the city of Rio de Janeiro. Includes materials to encourage the public to interact with the map, leave messages, and share memories.
Additional materials needed: Post-it notes, paper, pens, etc.
Location: on a clean surface/table
Map of Museums and Memory Projects of the Sustainable Favela Network
Size: 50x70cm.
Photographic paper.
One map may be available for the exhibition.
Copies may be requested for sale, R$75 each (2 weeks' notice required).
Location: Attached to a clean wall.
Play "Penha" (45 minutes)
Requests must be made directly to Nathalia Macena and Fernanda dos Santos of the collective Por um Triz.
With a strong and forceful theatrical expression, the play recalls, on stage, the moments when anguish and hope gripped Maria da Penha, Nathalia's mother, in her fight against the eviction of Vila Autódromo. A discussion circle follows the performance.
Fishing net from the Maré Museum
Must be requested outside the Museu da Maré.
Option: Place a sign "What does the network mean to you?" and invite the public to post messages on clothespins.
Additional materials needed: hanging space, clothespins, pens, and paper.
Guidelines for Requesting Activities and Materials by Invitation Letter
To invite the Climate Memory of Favelas exhibition to participate in your activity/space/event, we recommend sending an official invitation letter by email to rede@favelasustentavel.org, which will be forwarded to the RFS Climate Memory Working Group for consideration. Feedback will be provided within one month.
This letter should include:
(1) the name of the event, who is organizing/inviting (department, individuals, institution), and the expected attendance (how many people and who are they?);
(2) the date(s) and time(s) of the event;
(3) the location and format of the event;
(4) the reason for the invitation, the purpose of the event, and how it connects with the climate memory exhibition;
(5) which activities/materials listed above are being requested and how you intend to incorporate them;
(6) how many and which members of the collective are being invited to speak/present, if a member of each museum (or if not, what profile), and the anticipated presentation format;
(7) whether the materials can be securely shipped in advance and delivered later in Santa Teresa;
(8) the amount of travel assistance and honorarium that can be offered to participants;
(9) whether or not they will be able to cover the cost of daily equipment rental and/or security deposit; and
(10) whether a certificate or statement will be provided to participants after the event.
Final Exhibition Launch
The launch of the full exhibition on May 3rd 2025 brought together 320 people from across the city of Rio de Janeiro, Greater Rio’s Baixada Fluminense and Leste Fluminense regions, as well as various Brazilian states and other nations. In addition to the press, the event welcomed students, community organizers from several favelas, children, researchers, and public officials.
Everyone gathered to learn, celebrate, and reflect on the history of Rio de Janeiro—told in an innovative, profound, collective, and urgent way through the voices of hundreds of favela residents who lived the founding and building of their communities.