Newcastle University welcomes Peruvian Ambassador for the opening of contemporary art exhibition: Listening to the Voices of the Rivers
16 November 2025
Welcoming the Peruvian delegation
Newcastle University was honoured to welcome the Peruvian Ambassador Ignacio Higueras Hare and the Head of Cultural, Educational, and Press Affairs, Miss Irina Encarnación, during their visit to the city for the opening of ‘Listening to the Voices of the Rivers’ at Newcastle Contemporary Art.
This powerful exhibition, curated by Dr Giuliana Borea, Senior Lecturer from the School of Modern Languages at Newcastle University, Dr Jamille Pinheiro Dias and Dr Harriet Sutcliffe, brought together extraordinary Amazonian artists.
This included the Peruvian artists Harry Pinedo / Inin Metsa, Cordelia Sánchez / Pesin Kate, Brus Rubio Churay, Rember Yahuarcani, Danna Gaviota, and Kimber Fercat and Pedro Alca.
Ecological sustainability and community participation
Their work explores the profound connections between rivers, ecosystems, Indigenous knowledge, and cultural memory. The exhibition connects to initiatives in the North East of England on healthy rivers and rainforest curricula, addressing ecological sustainability and community participation.
The exhibition helped to foster a deeper understanding of the global climate crisis and coincided with COP30 in the Brazilian Amazon. It encouraged people of all ages to reflect on their role in shaping a sustainable future.
During his time on campus, the Ambassador and Cultural Officer met with Professor Nigel Harkness, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and Professor Chris Whitehead, Acting Pro-Vice Chancellor, Global.
They learned more about the values, history, and local and global leadership of the University. The Embassy presented their work in the UK involving education and culture and outlined a landscape of different pathways for collaboration between Peruvian institutions and Newcastle University.
Diverse projects and collaborations in Peru
A meeting occurred involving Dr Nick Morgan, Director of the Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean (CLAC), Dr Giuliana Borea, Director of Impact and Engagement in the School of Modern Languages. Members of staff and students from a broad range of academic disciplines working on Peru and/or of Peruvian origin were also present.
It allowed us to showcase the diversity of projects and institutional collaborations in Peru, including marine science, microbial diversity and the arts. The conversations reflected our shared commitment to addressing global challenges, Indigenous knowledge and cultural leadership.
Together with the Embassy of Peru in the United Kingdom, we are proud to celebrate Peruvian creativity and strengthen connections between art, science, community, and culture.
Professor Nigel Harkness Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Newcastle University, said: “We are delighted to have hosted Ambassador Higueras Hare and to explore new opportunities for collaboration with Peru. This visit underscores the importance of international partnerships in tackling shared global challenges, from climate change to cultural resilience. By engaging with Amazonian indigenous art and knowledge in Newcastle, we reaffirm our commitment to connecting research, creativity, and community on a global scale.”
Our sincere thanks go to the Embassy of Peru in the United Kingdom for their engagement and to everyone involved in bringing this remarkable exhibition to the region.
Listening to the Voices of the Rivers ran at Newcastle Contemporary Art from 30 October to 22 November.