Guia Cultural da Costa Verde

Paraty • Paraty

SILO CULTURAL JOSÉ KLEBER

The temple of caiçara culture

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These cultural facilities were opened to the public in 2001, and the name honors an actor, poet and composer from Paraty. It has housed relevant activities that add value to the local culture.

It all began with the reconstruction of a former silo all built in wood, perfect to hold activities coordinated by artist and cultural producer Luís Perequê, and ballerina and choreographer Vanda Mota. The first activity held in the premises was dance, which is continuing to this day. The Escola de Dança do Silo directed by Vanda provides training for all ages in the classical and contemporary schools, among others.

In 2002, a genuine cassava meal mill and a caiçara village were built, including a typical home, as a sample of the day-to-day life and customs of a caiçara or fishermen’s community. Under the name of Tarde Caiçara, a guided tour exalted the expertise and activities of the caiçaras and their practical experience such as the use of cassava, from the production of meal to baking the beijus, or patties.

Rede Caiçara de Cultura was created in 2005, with the proposal of culturally integrating other communities beyond Paraty, with a view to thinking about and transforming their social and environmental realities.

During that same year, the Silo was given support to acquire operating equipment that made it possible to maintain its independence for new activities. Many achievements followed since those days, such as free workshops, exhibitions and presentations, films shown, CDs produced and participations in relevant events for the town. It also partnered with the Off Flip, and contributed with presentations and encounters in favor of a genuine caiçara culture.

The Silo was instrumental in creating a cultural movement in Paraty in 2007, hosting meetings questioning cultural issues. Following the creation of the Cultural Defense as proposed by Luís Perequê, there arose relevant actions such as Caravana Paraty, which in 2013 organized performances involving 158 artists in the CCBB in Rio de Janeiro, attracting as many as 5000 spectators.

In 2011, the Silo inaugurated its new facilities in a large house in the Paraty historical town center, the seat of its administration and with rooms for exhibitions, lectures and events. This property is shared with Espaço Cultural Eletrobras Eletronuclear, which sponsors a permanent exhibition on equipment for nuclear power plants, besides temporary ones. These premises also house Associação dos Amigos de Margaret Mee, which has a room with this famous botanist’s personal belongings, photos, books, and a beautiful collection of drawings.

The former shed continues with its dancing activities and the studio used by Luiz Perequê. The entity also holds an important activity in the town center, in addition to a small shop that sells souvenirs of a caiçara cultural nature: miniatures of musical instruments, t-shirts, photos of Paraty, books, CDs and DVDs by local artists and items with drawings by Margaret Mee.

The Silo Cultural certainly deserves a visit, by virtue of its historical and cultural environment as well as its diverse program of events.

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