TEMPERATURE CHECK

An ISE-DA initiative taking the pulse of Black cultural stewardship.

“What are the potentials of growing Black patronage across the diaspora, and how can we cultivate lasting infrastructure for cross-diasporic cultural exchange and support as a new generation of Black patrons emerges?”

Introducing Temperature Check — a traveling research and programming initiative that takes the pulse of Black cultural stewardship across the diaspora.

ABOUT TEMPERATURE CHECK

Conceived in 2022, Temperature Check is an initiative that assesses and documents the growth of Black cultural stewardship across the diaspora. Comprised of an exhibition, events, and programming, it explores how Black cultural patronage can be expanded and sustained across the diaspora. The initiative focuses on a different diasporic city every two years, conducting in-depth research on the infrastructure necessary to support and grow Black patronage.

The goals of Temperature Check are:

Visibility – Showcase Black cultural contributions globally and discover potential and existing Black cultural stewards across the diaspora.
Community Building – Foster networks between Black artists, collectors, and institutions.
Legacy Creation – Document and preserve Black cultural production for future generations.

WHY IT MATTERS

With a mission to showcase global Black cultural contributions, Temperature Check will help shed light on both the collection and production of global Black diasporic art. The exhibition will always be a cross-disciplinary curatorial effort. Additionally, because our program will geographically rotate and coincide with established art fairs and biennales, Temperature Check will be a sustainable addition to the arts calendar.
Temperature Check's programming provides the host city an opportunity for international audiences to truly engage and become familiar with the local arts community, artists, and professionals outside of what the Temperature Check exhibition highlights.
Our program specifically focuses on and highlights global Black art production and collectors. Temperature Check will highlight, document, publish, and track the development of this sector with each progressing edition.

Launched in São Paulo in September 2025, Temperature Check’s first iteration centered around a week of programming during the São Paulo Biennial and the Rotas Brasileiras art fairs. The initiative engaged Afro-Brazilian professionals, patrons, and cultural leaders during a period of vibrant artistic activity, laying the groundwork for ongoing research and programming over the subsequent two years.

The São Paulo immersion week was co-organized with 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair and in partnership with Latitude: Platform for Brazilian Galleries and Cutuca Projetos Culturais. ISE-DA and 1-54’s decision to join forces reflected our organizations’ aligned missions of championing African and diasporic art and cultivating new generations of collectors.

From intimate studio visits to immersive residencies, participants explored São Paulo through a rich and dynamic cultural lens, celebrating the voices shaping the global contemporary art landscape. This convergence and advisory tour fostered cross-generational exchange in a dynamic environment, set against the vibrant backdrop of São Paulo’s artistic scene.

Temperature Check received international press coverage, with additional features forthcoming.

São Paulo marked a pivotal moment for ISE-DA — connecting Black collectors, artists, and institutions across regions.

Building on the momentum of São Paulo, Temperature Check will continue its multi-year focus across Brazil — expanding connections between Black collectors, artists, and institutions through upcoming convenings in Brazil.