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Arts & Communication Performance arts, public space, and early childhood

of intersectoral plans within the scope of Culture is an active and constitutive dimension of
municipalities, aimed at early childhood, with the city itself, and artistic action has contributed to
extended listening to the population and the participation in public life. It also encourages people to face
definition of goals by the responsible bodies . the challenges of personal and collective life, stimulating
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The emphasis on safeguarding childhood, particularly the formation of community environments favorable to
early childhood, remains incipient in all social, educational, cultural insertion and artistic expression. When reflecting
and cultural actions in Brazil despite the existence of on the relationship between art, the city, and public life, we
legislation. Indicators are brought into the discussion bring up the idea of a permanent process that considers
to give priority to the construction of these actions in not only the spaces of cities and their populations but also
Brazilian public policies, such as questions about the the dynamics that govern them, creating their uses and
development of cognitive, social, physical, and emotional symbolizations, segregations, and inequalities. In this way,
skills guaranteed in the early years. artistic action has the potential to transform the spaces
and relationships that are part of public life. Why not
Studies in the field of neuroscience and pedagogy also consider the participation of young children in this
indicate that between the ages of zero and six, the human construction?
brain is at its most advanced stage of development, a
process significantly enhanced by the stimulation children 5. Inhabiting and enriching public spaces
receive from their interactions with people and their with children: EmQuanta’s experience as an
environment. The Municipal Plan for Early Childhood, artistic action in public squares and parks
promulgated by the São Paulo City Council as recently in the city of São Paulo
as 2018, points out that “the annual loss of income in
adulthood for those who, as children, were unable to In 2022, the project Sai de Casa, Quanta! by Núcleo
achieve full development is approximately 24%” and Quanta was awarded a grant from the São Paulo Municipal
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that “investment in early childhood is a highly effective Department of Culture . The initiative aimed to restart the
and efficient socioeconomic measure whose need to be group’s artistic and educational activities (performances,
prioritized is indisputable” . research seminars, and mentoring for artistic and
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educational projects) in the city of São Paulo after the two
In this way, creating a city that serves as a home for long years of social distancing imposed by the covid-19
young children, where they can live, explore, and enjoy their pandemic. During this delicate moment of reencounter,
surroundings, is an essential part of shaping public policies it was decided to adapt the show EmQuanta: Dance for
aimed at this age group. This involves transforming the city Young Children and Their Parents (that you can see in
environment itself, including its squares, streets, and public Figure 1 below) into an artistic action that would occupy
facilities, into more welcoming and child-friendly spaces. municipal parks in different areas of the city, spread across
The appreciation of nature, the use of colors, maintaining its four regions (north, central-west, south, and east). This
urban cleanliness, ensuring safety and accessibility on public was necessary due to the period of readaptation to social
roads, establishing and maintaining both public and private life and the need to continue adopting some sanitary
play spaces, and fostering intergeneral coexistence, are some measures to prevent the disease.
factors that guarantee the conditions of public care for early
childhood. Concerns about the quality of early childhood The sites targeted for the partnership were in regions of
education and the involvement of families and society in high social vulnerability and lacked social programming,
valuing the care of young children indicate the need for especially programs aimed at early childhood. The aim of
cultural and social actions that stimulate awareness of their 3 With the support of the Call for Proposals for Decentralized
integral development. This is crucial because the exclusion Artistic and Cultural Projects in Multiple Languages,
and invisibility of young children can cause social problems. the project Sai de Casa, Quanta! carried out ten free
We, thus, understand that public spaces serve as places artistic actions in city squares and parks, covering all four
for learning and interaction, recognizing the importance administrative and territorial regions of the city. It also
of the surroundings and the city itself in the life of hosted the 1st Art and Early Childhood Seminar, bringing
together specialist teachers and researchers in the areas of
urban societies. Expanding the universe of experiences, art and early childhood education. Additionally, the project
knowledge, and socialization for young children in public mentored six projects by artists and educators focusing on
spaces is also in the interest of the arts. It is part of a social this age group through the Art and Early Childhood Project
learning process that values sensitivity, cooperation, Incubator. The project’s activities can be viewed on the
diversity, and the inclusion of children in spaces where Núcleo Quanta website at www.nucleoquanta.com and on
affection, recognition, and discoveries are nurtured. its social networks @nucleoquanta.

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2024) 5 https://doi.org/10.36922/ac.1668