Shey Ri Acu Rivera Ríos

With this support, I seek to enrich my creative practice in public art grounded on placekeeping (weaving cultural heritage with visions for the future) and design justice principles. I want to gain more tools and knowledge on socially-engaged practice and the logistical planning for public art. For me, this involves a better understanding of contracts and working with municipalities, community organizing, and how art can be used to impact policy. I will contract an intellectual property lawyer and specialist for three one-on-one consulting sessions about contracts, artist agreements, intellectual property, and trademarks. I will also attend a one-week residency at Taller Malaquita in Santurce, Puerto Rico, to learn about their cultural placekeeping work and their processes for producing public art that has a direct connection to activism and community organizing.