Newcastle University welcomes Peruvian Ambassador for the opening of contemporary art exhibition
The opening of 'Listening to the Voices of the Rivers' at Newcastle Contemporary Art.
3 November 2025
Ambassador Ignacio Higueras Hare and the Head of Cultural, Educational, and Press Affairs, Miss Irina Encarnación visited for the opening of this powerful exhibition. This exhibition was curated by:
- Dr Giuliana Borea, Senior Lecturer from the School of Modern Languages at Newcastle University
- Dr Jamille Pinheiro Dias
- Dr Harriet Sutcliffe
The exhibition also brought together extraordinary Amazonian creatives — including the Peruvian artists: Harry Pinedo / Inin Metsa, Cordelia Sánchez / Pesin Kate, Brus Rubio Churay, Rember Yahuarcani, Danna Gaviota, and Kimber Fercat + Pedro Alca.
Their work explores the profound connections between rivers, ecosystems, Indigenous knowledge, and cultural memory.
Artist Harry Pinedo, Dr Giuliana Borea, Dr Muge Satar, Professor Nigel Harkness, Ambassador Ignacio Higueras Hare and Miss Irina Encarnación
The exhibition connects to initiatives in the North East of England on:
- healthy rivers and rainforest curricula
- addressing ecological sustainability
- community participation
The exhibition helped to foster a deeper understanding of the global climate crisis and coincided with COP30 in the Brazilian Amazon, encouraging people of all ages to reflect on their role in shaping a sustainable future.
Pathways for collaboration
During his time on campus, the Ambassador and Cultural Officer met with:
- Professor Nigel Harkness, Deputy Vice-Chancellor
- Professor Chris Whitehead, Acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Global
They explored 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.
We showcased the diversity of projects and institutional collaborations in Peru through a meeting with:
- 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
Ambassador Ignacio Higueras Hare and Professor Nigel Harkness
Celebrating creativity and connection
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.