The Rio Art Museum (MAR) and the Museum of Tomorrow will host the Masculinities Festival this Friday. The event aims to explore how new visions of masculinity can shape safer, fairer, and more compassionate futures.
The program includes concerts, debates, and workshops with Brazilian and international public figures. Among them are musician Baco Exu do Blues, environmental activist Ailton Krenak, educator Father Júlio Lancellotti, and British writer Jordan Stephens.
Event is part of the MenCare Changemaker Summit agenda
The Masculinities Festival is part of the MenCare Changemaker Summit agenda, which will take place from May 27 to 30 in Rio de Janeiro.
The global initiative will bring together thousands of people over four days to co-create bold and practical solutions that promote gender equality and address some of the most urgent challenges related to boys, men, and masculinity around the world today.
Concerts, exhibition, and more: what’s happening at the Masculinities Festival in Rio de Janeiro
As part of this program, the Masculinities Festival takes place on May 29; it is free and open to the public, with various attractions throughout the day.
Through lectures, debates, and workshops, the event will shed light on topics such as climate justice and solidarity-based masculinity, health, communication and role models, religion and transformation, fatherhood, racial injustice, and the urgent global movement to prevent and combat violence.
Among the names already confirmed are Baco Exu do Blues, Ailton Krenak, Renato Noguera, Jordan Stephens, and others.
One of the highlights is the award-winning British-Nigerian artist Kay Rufai, who is presenting a photographic exhibition never before seen in Brazil: “Meninos Que Sorriem” (Boys Who Smile).
In it, the artist deconstructs negative stereotypes about Black boys and men in Rio’s favelas by highlighting their smiles. The opening will be on Friday at Praça Mauá, and the exhibition will be on display for just one day.
Attractions beyond the auditoriums
In addition to lectures, concerts, and exhibitions, the program extends beyond the auditoriums.
Thus, the museums’ open spaces will host capoeira circles, percussion classes, and altinha tournaments.
The itinerary will also include a guided tour of the Pequena África neighborhood and a Hair Care Space, which celebrates everyday fatherhood. A major musical concert will close out the festival.
