SESI Creative Industry House: a new chapter for culture and innovation in the Amazon.

The city of Belém witnessed the rebirth of one of the most important Belle Époque mansions on Avenida Brás de Aguiar, now transformed into a vibrant space for culture, innovation, and creativity. After a meticulous restoration process that revealed nine layers of paint, original stained glass windows, and hardwood floors, the Casa SESI Indústria Criativa opened its doors in a soft opening for the press and guests this Monday, November 3rd.

As one of the spaces comprising the Brazilian Industry Hub , a point of convergence for national industry during COP30, the project is the result of a partnership between the Federation of Industries of the State of Pará (FIEPA System), through the Social Service of Industry (SESI), with the support of the National Council of SESI and the National Confederation of Industry (CNI).

According to Alex Carvalho, president of the FIEPA System and regional director of SESI Pará, the SESI Creative Industry House is a gift to Belém that will bring together important debates and initiatives from the state's industry. “Today we are holding this soft opening with collaborators from the FIEPA System and guests, and we will have the official inauguration on November 9th, during COP30, with an intense program of debates, exhibitions, and meetings. Events from the Brazilian Industry Hub will also be promoted here, making the House a space for dialogue promoted by CNI and FIEPA, bringing together national and international industry leaders to discuss topics such as climate, sustainability, and socioeconomic development. It will be a great moment to show that Brazilian and Amazonian industry is connected to the bioeconomy, innovation, and the challenges of the future,” he highlighted.

In its debut, the House presents four simultaneous exhibitions to the public: the "Casa SESI" exhibition, which shows the history of the property; the immersive exhibition "Im-PARÁ-veis," directed by the Pará-born visual artist Roberta Carvalho; the "Jewels of the Amazon" project, featuring bio-jewels produced by local artisans from biodiversity materials, conceived by the Elabora Social Institute with sponsorship from Hydro and institutional support from the FIEPA System, Jornada COP+, Ebata, and Aimex; and the "Upcycling SENAI" exhibition, carried out through a partnership with the Federal Revenue Service and SENAI Pará, dedicated to the circular economy and waste reduction.

“This project has been under development for some time. It focused on COP, but it's not limited to it. It represents SESI's permanent presence in the culture and creative economy of Pará. Our commitment is to guarantee the continuity of this initiative, keeping the mansion preserved and alive. Restoring this space was also about valuing the history of Belém, because there is no future without looking to the past. This house shows who we were and points the way to who we want to be,” stated the superintendent of SESI Pará, Dário Lemos.

The inauguration of the House also marks a new moment for SESI and FIEPA, which are now investing even more significantly in valuing culture and innovation as transformative forces. For Ana Cláudia Moraes, executive manager of Culture at SESI, the space represents a movement of reconnection with the city and with creativity. “This renovation was conducted with the understanding that restoring is also creating. This historic mansion, once silent, is now reborn as a vibrant space of ideas, connections, and opportunities. The project unites innovation, collectivity, and the work of the Pará industry itself in an environment that will be a reference for the state's creative economy, hosting workshops, exhibitions, courses, and debates on art, technology, robotics, design, and sustainability. Open to artists, entrepreneurs, and institutions, the House has the mission of fostering new projects and discussing the future of the creative industry in the Amazon, valuing the historical and cultural heritage of Belém and connecting past and future under the same roof,” she explained.

The SESI Creative Industry House will open to the public starting November 5th, from Tuesday to Friday, from 9 am to 6 pm.