Rosana Paulino Awarded Jane Lombard Prize for Art and Social Justice – Artforum

Report on the Jane Lombard Prize for Art and Social Justice and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Recognition of Artistic Contribution to Social Justice and Sustainable Development

The Vera List Center for Art and Politics at The New School has conferred the 2025–27 Jane Lombard Prize for Art and Social Justice upon Afro-Brazilian artist, educator, and researcher Rosana Paulino. This award recognizes artistic practices that significantly engage with and advance objectives central to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning equality, justice, and education.

Profile of Recipient: Rosana Paulino

Rosana Paulino’s multidisciplinary work as an artist, educator, and researcher directly addresses critical themes that are foundational to several SDGs. Her practice is instrumental in fostering dialogue and understanding around complex social issues.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: Paulino’s art critically examines the legacies of slavery and the persistence of racial and social hierarchies in Brazil. By centering Afro-Brazilian identity and history, her work advocates for the reduction of inequality within and among countries.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: A significant portion of her oeuvre is dedicated to exploring the position of Black women in Brazilian society. This focus contributes to the discourse on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls by highlighting their historical and contemporary struggles and contributions.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: In her roles as an educator and researcher, Paulino’s work serves as a vital educational tool. It promotes inclusive and equitable quality education by bringing marginalized histories into institutional and public spaces, fostering lifelong learning opportunities about social justice.

The Jane Lombard Prize: Fostering Art for Global Goals

The Jane Lombard Prize for Art and Social Justice is designed to honor an artist or group of artists whose work demonstrates a profound commitment to social justice. The selection of Rosana Paulino underscores the prize’s alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

1. Promoting Peaceful and Inclusive Societies (SDG 16): The prize supports artists who use their platform to challenge injustice and advocate for more inclusive institutions. By rewarding art that engages with social justice, the award directly contributes to the promotion of peaceful and just societies.
2. Advancing Equality (SDG 10 & SDG 5): The prize provides visibility and resources to artists whose work confronts systemic inequalities based on race, gender, and heritage. This amplifies artistic voices that are crucial for achieving the targets set forth in SDG 5 and SDG 10.
3. Enhancing Education for Sustainable Development (SDG 4): By celebrating artists like Paulino, the prize highlights the role of culture and art in achieving quality education. It validates artistic practice as a form of research and public pedagogy that can lead to a more sustainable and equitable world.

Conclusion: Synergies between Art, Social Justice, and the 2030 Agenda

The awarding of the Jane Lombard Prize to Rosana Paulino exemplifies the powerful synergy between contemporary art and the global pursuit of sustainable development. Her work’s engagement with themes of racial inequality, gender justice, and historical memory serves as a potent vehicle for advancing the core principles of the SDGs. This recognition affirms the critical role of the arts in building more equitable, just, and inclusive societies.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article identifies the prize recipient, Rosana Paulino, as an “educator, and researcher.” Her work, which is recognized for its contribution to social justice, serves as a form of education that promotes cultural diversity and human rights, aligning with the principles of quality and inclusive education.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The article highlights the achievement of a prominent female artist, Rosana Paulino. By awarding her a prestigious prize for art and social justice, the Vera List Center promotes a woman’s leadership and significant contribution to public and cultural life, which is central to achieving gender equality.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  This is a central theme, as the prize is for “Art and Social Justice.” The recipient is an “Afro-Brazilian artist,” which points to a focus on racial and ethnic inequalities. Her work, recognized by this award, addresses the historical and ongoing marginalization of specific communities, aiming to promote social inclusion and reduce inequality.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The prize’s focus on “Social Justice” directly connects to this goal. Art is used as a medium to advocate for justice, challenge discriminatory practices, and promote a more inclusive society. The award itself is an action by an institution (the Vera List Center) to support and uphold these principles.

Specific SDG Targets

1. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.
     
     Explanation: As an “educator” whose art focuses on “social justice,” Rosana Paulino’s work directly contributes to this target by educating the public on human rights, cultural diversity (specifically Afro-Brazilian heritage), and the importance of justice.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
     
     Explanation: The article showcases a woman being awarded a major prize for her leadership and influence in the public and cultural spheres of art and social justice, which exemplifies the spirit of this target.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
     
     Explanation: The recognition of an “Afro-Brazilian artist” for work on “social justice” is a direct example of promoting the social and cultural inclusion of a historically marginalized ethnic group.
   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.
     
     Explanation: Art for social justice, as practiced by Paulino, often serves to highlight and critique the discriminatory practices and historical injustices that lead to inequalities of outcome, thereby advocating for change.

4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.
     
     Explanation: The prize supports an artist who exercises her fundamental freedom of expression to inform the public about issues of social justice, which is a key aspect of this target.
   • Target 16.b: Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development.
     
     Explanation: While not directly enforcing policies, the artist’s work contributes to creating the social pressure and awareness necessary to advocate for the promotion of non-discriminatory policies.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

The article does not mention explicit quantitative indicators. However, the information provided implies qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

1. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Implied Indicator: The extent to which themes of social justice, human rights, and cultural diversity are integrated into public discourse and cultural programming, as evidenced by the existence of awards like the “Jane Lombard Prize for Art and Social Justice.”

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Implied Indicator: The number and prominence of women receiving major awards and recognition for their leadership in public and cultural fields. The article itself serves as a data point for this indicator.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Implied Indicator: The level of recognition and support for cultural producers from marginalized and minority groups (e.g., “Afro-Brazilian artists”) within mainstream cultural institutions.

4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Implied Indicator: The existence and strength of institutions and prizes that protect and promote freedom of expression, particularly artistic expression that engages with themes of social justice.

Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: artforum.com