In 2011, the Multidisciplinary Institute of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) held the 'Seminar on Democracy, Education and Art in Contemporary Times: Instituting Movements in the Baixada Fluminense' on December 7. As part of this event, João Candido Portinari gave a talk entitled 'From the Coffee Plantation to the United Nations', aimed at educators, students, UFRRJ staff and residents of the local and surrounding communities.
At the same time, the Portinari Project organized the 'Portinari Art and the Environment' exhibition from 7 to 11 December as part of the event.
