Workers accuse the Bienal de São Paulo of mistreatment and ‘terrible working conditions’

By Katriona Hannah


The 35th Bienal de São Paulo has recently faced allegations of terrible working conditions and staff mistreatment. 


“[…] on the one hand, the themes of diversity and respect permeate the entire political proposal of the curatorship of the 35th Biennale. But, on the other hand, the way in which the work of mediation professionals and public advisors is organised, reproduced by the Fundação Bienal, perpetuates the same structures of violence that are denounced by the artists who make up the Bienal.”

The pavilion where the Bienal de São Paulo is held. Image: artnews.com


This extract forms part of an anonymous collective letter written by workers at the biennial and published on the select_celeste website. It states that the Fundação Bienal Foundation, which is in charge of managing the event, has concealed a culture of discrimination while maintaining a public front of diversity. The workers state that the conditions harm their professional performance and their physical and mental health while contributing to the transphobic and ableist discrimination in Brazilian society. The letter continues with a description of negative working conditions, including: an environment with excessive heat which had caused fainting, having to wait for up to three hours for a bathroom break, intimidating attitudes, below market VR (a common form of insurance in Brazil) and moral harassment. Additionally, the workers have stated that although Fundação Bienal Foundation had hired them with diversity in mind (hiring people of all genders, races, ethnicities and people with disabilities), it appears that this move was simply a part of “[…] an institutional merchandising policy that profits from these presences by resonating an image of inclusion, as well as accessibility, without, however, taking measures that guarantee the well-being of these workers.”

The workers have called on the foundation to comply with four key principles of good management practices: 

  • Maintain an appropriate workplace.

  • “Provide appropriate physical and technological material for the normal execution of work”.

  • Prevent damages to their employees.

  • Maintain a pleasant work environment that is free from discrimination

Ibrahim Mahama installation view at the 35th Bienal de São Paulo. Image: artreview.com

The foundation responded that prior to the publication of this open letter, their leaders were not contacted by the workers. They also said that the salaries they pay are in line with “the best values practiced in the market” and that the working hours comply with the labour legislations and agreements signed with the workers. Fundação Bienal have promised to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations against them and, if applicable, take appropriate measures. 

The scandal which garnered a lot of attention in Brazil is happening amidst the ongoing 35th biannual with the theme “Choreographies of the Impossible”, addressing decolonisation, the environment, and resistance against oppression. The curatorial team includes the Brazilian curator Diane Lima, the Portuguese artist and writer Grada Kilomba, the Brazilian anthropologist Hélio Menezes and the Spanish artist and curator Manuel Borja-Villel. In a joint statement for The Art Newspaper, they write that “The diversity [of the biennial and the curatorial team] emerged naturally—not as a deliberate effort, but as a reflection of the multifaceted nature of our contemporary artistic landscape. Our focus extends beyond individual nationalities, recognising that the concept of nationality itself can be a product of colonial and outdated categorisations.” Despite the biennial’s theme and the voiced commitment to the fight for diversity and against oppression, the workers’ open letter raises a crucial question. How accurately do the public statements and promises of major institutions align with the reality of their practices?

Bibliography

Angeleti, Gabriella. “The 2023 Bienal de São Paulo lodges kinetic critiques of racism and environmental degradation”. The Art Newspaper. 13.09.2023. https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/09/13/bienal-sao-paulo-2023-dance-environment-racism

Greenberger, Alex. “Bienal de São Paulo Workers Denounce ‘Terrible Working Conditions’ in Open Letter”. ARTnews. 01.11.2023. https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/bienal-de-sao-paulo-workers-open-letter-1234685413/

The Workers at the the 35th São Paulo Biennial. “CARTA ABERTA DE REPÚDIO ÀS CONDIÇÕES DE TRABALHO NA 35A BIENAL DE SÃO PAULO”. select_celeste. 18.10.2023. https://select.art.br/carta-aberta-35a-bienal/

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