Roots of Resilience: a participatory approach to mapping, measuring and mobilising cultural heritage in Brazil's Iron Quadrangle

Roots of Resilience (ROR), funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), was a participatory collaborative research initiative delivered with six cultural organisations from Brazil’s Iron Quadrangle—a region devastated by mining-related disasters and facing the ongoing risk of further humanitarian and environmental crises.
Using participatory action research (PAR) and arts-based participatory research (ABPR) approaches, ROR delivered impact across five interconnected domains:
1. Organisational capacity – six cultural organisations were embedded as co-researchers, gaining skills in research design, data collection, and evaluation. These organisations now sustain independent impact research, using evidence in strategic planning and fundraising.
2. Community resilience and wellbeing – evidence from 489 survey participants and 15 interviews demonstrated how cultural activity strengthened mental health, youth empowerment, and social cohesion. Educational follow-ons directly engaged 1,700 people, while the Young Ambassadors Programme trained new community leaders.
3. Policy and practice – findings informed cultural policy debates and shaped institutional strategies, including Inhotim’s post-disaster planning. The AMA Rio project trained 350 young climate leaders using ROR’s methodology, extending its application to climate resilience.
4. Cultural outputs and public engagement – the documentary VALE? and associated public events amplified community voices and reached regional and national audiences.
5. Academic and international impact – ROR’s methodological innovations have been disseminated in peer-reviewed publications and international fora, influencing debates on cultural value, resilience, and sustainability within UNESCO’s 2005 Convention.