VANESSA ARELLE
vanessa arelle'S
LEADING CULTURE DESTINATIONS:
Vanessa Arelle is a fellow of the Legatum Institute and a Contributing Editor for Vogue Mexico/Latin America. She acted as Head of Cultural Affairs for Mexico in the UK from 2011 to 2015, and continues her work supporting programs in art, culture and heritage in all types of expressions: visual arts, performing arts, creative industries, literature, music, gastronomy and cinema among others. Since 1997, Vanessa has been actively involved in philanthropic, fundraising and social development projects in Mexico, Spain, US and UK many of them with a global outreach and impact. She is also a Tech start up investor and entrepreneur and renewable energy consultant.
If there was one piece of art you could feature in, which would it be and why?
In a Leonora Carrington painting or any of the surrealists for that matter. Surrealism has always appealed to me as it is so personal and open to interpretation.
Who inspires you?
Vanessa Branson – she is dynamic, passionate, and a true creative enterprenuer. Her efforts have resulted in projects that have had a huge impact on culture.
What are your cultural aspirations?
To continue collaborating with creatives and organziations to support their efforts and help them achieve their vision.
What are your favourite cultural cities in the world?
London, Paris, New York, and Berlin, because of their museums and galleries; Edinbrugh, especially during August, as there is so much happening with the Edinburgh Festival; Merida, because the people that have moved there have made it such a special cultural hub; and Marfa, for the people and galleries and organizations!
What are you up to at the moment?
Finishing my position with Mexico and watching my other projects come to reality including the Frida Escobedo pavilion at the V&A in partnership with LDF, the Mayas exhibition at the World Museum in Edinburgh, and the Voladores de Papantla at Glastonbury Festival, Origins Festival and the Greenwich and Docklands Festival. I am also currently developing an App which will launch in the winter 2015, and I am consulting for Ilios (solar energy provider in Mexico) for its merger with Solar City.