O lugar da arte e a arte no lugar: eventos culturais em espaços públicos em Ponta Grossa (PR)

Abstract

Art, by its very nature, manifests independently of institutional or state initiatives. The spatiality of public spaces, specifically public squares, reveals disparities in the availability and quality of services offered. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the role that art occupies in Ponta Grossa, with a special focus on the actions and policies implemented by the Municipal Secretariat of Culture concerning public spaces. Its general objective is to analyze the role of cultural events and projects promoted by public authorities in the formation and definition of places (squares and parks) in Ponta Grossa – PR. Regarding the methodology employed for data collection on the quantity and founding year of the squares, the process began with a literature review. Subsequently, the information obtained was confirmed and updated through municipal laws and decrees, as well as on-site inspections conducted in several squares on weekends. To create the maps, shapefiles available on the Ponta Grossa Urban Planning and Research Institute (IPLAN) portal were used. In addition, satellite images were examined using the Google Earth platform. Using this database as a foundation, ArcGIS software was employed to create maps and cartograms. Interviews and questionnaires were also conducted with members of the public authorities (the Municipal Secretariat of Culture and IPLAN). Finally, the study sought to understand and analyze the research object through the perspective of the triad suggested by Lefebvre: perceived space, conceived space, and lived space. The scientific approach utilized was the regressive-progressive method proposed by the same author. The data obtained reveal that Ponta Grossa has a significant lack of art-focused venues in peripheral areas. Museums, cultural centers, and theaters are mostly concentrated in the city's Central district. According to the results, it was evident that urban squares and parks have the potential to become ideal spaces for artistic and cultural manifestations and events. It is essential to understand these public spaces not only from the perspective of territorial and landscape planning but also as contexts that stimulate social coexistence. The inclusion of art in certain spaces has the power to transform them, contributing to their enhancement and community appropriation.