#ArtsAgainstAdversity

Photo: Marcia Farias

People’s Palace Projects' mission is to investigate the power of creativity and collaborate with marginalised communities to make change. With a growing global network of partners, People's Palace Projects advocates for equality, climate justice and better health through the arts.

Our history

1997

PPP is established with an international focus. Our first project gets underway in Burkina Faso, West Africa, focusing on AIDS/HIV education.
2001

People’s Palace Projects is formally incorporated as a charity in the UK.
2002

People’s Palace Projects do Brasil is established to co-produce projects spanning the UK and Brazil. It currently runs CASA RIO — a residency centre for artists and academics in Rio de Janeiro.
2004

Paul Heritage, PPP’s Artistic Director, receives the British Council’s 70th Anniversary Award.
2005

Paul Heritage receives Premio ORILAXÉ award for Human Rights.

2007

PPP becomes a full charitable subsidiary of Queen Mary University of London.
2008

PPP becomes a Regularly Funded Organisation (now National Portfolio Organisation) of Arts Council England.
2010

Paul Heritage is knighted by the Brazilian government for his contribution to UK-Brazilian cooperation.
2011

For the first time, academics from Queen Mary University of London and artists from the Royal Shakespeare Company travel to Brazil to take part in Shakespeare Forum.
2012

PPP brings 30 artists from Rio de Janeiro to the UK for Rio Occupation London, performing across the capital with UK-based artists as part of the London2012 Festival.

2013

Working with Contact Theatre Manchester and the Battersea Arts Centre, PPP sets up The Agency, an ongoing creative and entrepreneurial project for young people across the UK.
2014

The Art of Cultural Exchange forges an ongoing research collaboration between Queen Mary University of London and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
2015

For the first time, Indigenous artist and activist Takumã Kuikuro joins PPP in London from his village in the Upper Xingu Community.
2016

As part of Rio’s 2016 Cultural Olympiad, the PPP-supported homeless community choir, With One Voice, launches the first-ever international arts and homelessness movement.
2017

Travelling to the Xingu Indigenous Territories, PPP facilitates the first in a series of residencies between Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists.

2018

Working in one of the largest favelas in Rio de Janeiro, PPP begins work on Building the Barricades, the first international research on the impact of violence over the mental health of residents of favelas.
2019

Bringing together academics from around the world, PPP initiates the Indigenous Research Methods network. The same year, PPP’s portfolio of work expands across Latin America to include Argentina, Colombia and Peru. The Xingu Encounter project is nominated for a Times Higher Education Award for International Collaboration of the Year.
2020

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, PPP and its partners raise urgently needed funds to support Indigenous community partners in the Xingu. As part of this ongoing work on mental health and wellbeing, PPP expands its projects to India and Pakistan.
2021

PPP brings Indigenous art installations to the Venice Biennale with Gringo Cardia and Glasgow Science centre, as part of the programme of events surrounding COP26. Our work supporting the Xingu during COVID-19 receives the Queen Mary Alliance Award for Impact.
2022

PPP celebrates its 25th anniversary.