Artistic Occupations in the Historical Center of São Luís (MA): Reflections on the revitalization and preservation of the cultural heritage of São Luís

Ours is an exploratory and descriptive field research, using bibliographic research and semi-structured interviews, aiming to discuss how the occupations "A Vida é uma Festa" and "O Circo Tá na Rua" in the Historic Center of São Luís contribute to the revitalization, democratization, preservation, and valorization of the heritage of the city. It conceptualizes cultural heritage and depict the artistic occupations of São Luís. It also punctuates how these artistic occupations give new meaning to spaces and enable the dynamic permanence of the idea that cultural heritage is not limited to ruins, mansions, works and monuments, but a living and under reconstruction by the political, social and cultural relations between those who inhabit it. Besides that, our study emphasizes the relationship between occupations and heritage, approaching the dynamic perspective that advocates for its continuous development, with changes arising from the contemporary uses that are given to it, placing subjects as a part of it. Finally, it ends by emphasizing that artistic occupations claim the preservation and valorization of heritage through its use, by means of bringing people closer to the cultural assets that make up the history of the place and the nation.