ARCHIVO VIVO is a growing platform that strengthens the community of visual artists of Latin American and Spanish-speaking Caribbean descent living in the UK, through opportunities for encounter, connection and increased visibility.
It emerges from research into the presence of contemporary Latin American artists within the British arts ecosystem. Among the findings are a lack of visibility and limited opportunities for the production and exhibition of work, as well as a shared need among artists, curators and those interested in art from Latin America to strengthen connections, foster exchange and establish networks of support.
ARCHIVO VIVO contributes to diversifying and making a more representative arts system, positioning itself as a point of reference for artists, researchers, curators and writers interested in art from Latin America and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean.
ARCHIVO VIVO is a project by Raquel Villar-Pérez, designed by Jaime A. Molina and funded by Arts Council England.
Mission
ARCHIVO VIVO’s mission is to strengthen the community of visual artists of Latin American and Spanish Caribbean descent living in the UK, by improving their visibility, access and connectivity within the British arts ecosystem. Through a growing digital platform, the project facilitates encounters between artists and other cultural agents—including curators, researchers and organisations—promoting exchange, professional development and the circulation of knowledge.
Vision
ARCHIVO VIVO aims to become a nationally recognised reference resource for the identification, research and dissemination of the work of visual artists from Latin American and the Spanish Caribbean living in the UK. The project contributes to a more diverse, representative and connected cultural sector by supporting the development of sustainable networks and expanding access to contemporary artistic practices that have historically been underrepresented. ARCHIVO VIVO is conceived as a dynamic and evolving archive, in ongoing dialogue with the communities it serves and with the broader UK cultural context.
Values
- Community
We believe in the power of collective practice and in the importance of creating spaces for support, dialogue and collaboration among artists.
- Diversity and representation
We celebrate the multiplicity of identities, trajectories, languages and experiences that shape Latin American and Caribbean art in the UK.
- Accessibility
We are committed to open tools and digital formats that facilitate access to artists’ work and promote its dissemination to wide and diverse audiences.
- Collaboration
We understand art as a relational process and encourage partnerships between artists, institutions, curators and communities.
- Living memory
Archivo Vivo is not a static repository, but a space in constant development that recognises the value of the present and the ongoing evolution of artistic practices.
