Edito 2025: A new year of creativity and collaboration at Centre d'Art

Haiti has a vibrant artistic community that reflects its resilience and creativity. As an institution dedicated to promoting Haitian art and supporting the development of artists in this unique environment, we stand at the crossroads of culture and collaboration, committed to amplifying the voices of Haitian creators and accompanying their artistic journeys for over 80 years.

As we welcome the new year at the Centre d’Art, I extend my warmest greetings to each of you who are an integral part of our vibrant artistic community. This moment offers us a unique opportunity to reflect on our accomplishments and set ambitious goals for 2025. At the Centre d’Art, our commitment to supporting Haitian artists remains unwavering. We’ve seen incredible talent flourish, and in 2025, we eagerly anticipate the innovation and creativity this year will bring.

Art in Haiti is deeply connected to the nation’s history and identity. From the rhythmic sounds of its music to the colorful strokes of its paintings, Haitian art captures the spirit of a people who have overcome, or are still overcoming, immense adversity. Our mission at the Centre d’Art is to nurture this creativity by providing the resources, mentorship, and platforms necessary for Haitian artists to thrive.

One of the core activities of the Centre d’Art is organizing workshops and training programs. These programs are designed to equip artists with the skills to explore new techniques and broaden their horizons. Artistic and educational programming remains a priority, even though the situation requires adjustments. If regular classes cannot be held, occasional workshops will be organized in the provinces to support creation, discover potential new talents in other regions of the country, and provide artists with another opportunity for experimentation. Artists such as André Eugène, Frantz Zéphirin, Makseans Denis, Pierre Michel Jean, Reginald Louissaint, and Josué Azor will be leading workshops in Cap-Haïtien and Les Cayes between March and May 2025.

The Centre is also strengthening its support for artists through residencies, commissioned works, and a professional development program. In parallel, activities such as artist talks, lectures, and art film screenings will continue, with a focus on online dissemination to reach a broader audience.

We believe in the power of community. Our institution serves as a hub where artists can connect, share ideas, and collaborate on projects that reflect their collective experiences. That’s why, this year, we are launching the “Ann kwape tout fòm vyolans avèk lakilti” project, with support from the OAS office in Haiti, PADF, and the Government of Canada. This initiative is intended as a tool for intercommunity dialogue through arts and culture. The project aims to address the urgent needs of artists in neighborhoods affected by gang violence by first identifying and assessing the situation of artists and craftspeople impacted in four communities — Bel-Air, Grand-Rue, Carrefour-Feuilles, and Croix-des-Bouquets. It will enable them to create through a program of creative residencies at the Centre d’Art, foster dialogue between community members and psychologists/conflict resolution specialists, and culminate in a public presentation of the artworks produced during the project. The initiative will run over eight months, from January to August 2025.

The Centre d’Art continues its mission of conservation and preservation. In terms of the Centre’s archives and collection, training sessions for the team are ongoing this year with the support of the Centre Pompidou in Paris, as part of the “Tanbou” project funded by the French Development Agency (AFD). In collaboration with the company Idées Culture — also under the “Tanbou” project — museum management software has been acquired and installed to support training and facilitate online access to the Centre’s rich collection of over 5,000 artworks and nearly 3,000 archival documents tracing the history of Haitian art from 1944 to the present day. Training sessions are scheduled throughout 2025.

To our valued partners, your continued support is truly invaluable to our mission. Your generosity powers our initiatives and activities, allowing us to sustain an environment where artists can explore, collaborate, and showcase their work. With your support, we are able to turn our dreams into achievable goals — together, we are helping to shape a new generation of Haitian artists.

May 2025 be a year that amplifies our voices, nurtures our talents, and strengthens our community. I eagerly await the beautiful surprises this new journey through 2025 will bring, inspired by our shared passion for advancing Haitian art.

Thank you to all the artists, and happy 2025!

Kenbe fèm, pa lage!

Allenby Augustin
Executive Director