Fabrice Mauriès, the Ambassador of France in Haiti, the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Knowledge and Freedom Foundation (FOKAL) signed a financing agreement for the creation of a new cultural space in Port-au-Prince : La Fabrique des Arts (The Arts Factory).

This new cultural space "will be a place to exercise creativity and citizenship," explained Lorraine Mangonès, Executive Director of FOKAL. The creation of the "Fabrique des Arts" is one of the three components of the Tanbou project, which will be implemented by the French Institute in Paris and a consortium of Haitian civil society organiza.ions (FOKAL, Center d'Art and the Association Quatre Chemins)‚ The purpose of the project is to support the structuring of the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) sector in Haiti.

Very fragmented, the CCI sector needs to be structured and gain visibility. In a context of ongoing crisis, cultural operators and artists need increased support in order to contribute more broadly to the socio-economic development of the country. As the Ambassador of France so aptly recalled after referring to the tragedy that occurred in Noailles https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37935-haiti-flashthe-village-of-noailles-victim-of-the-gang-war-at-least-15-dead.html "Haitian cultural institutions are suffering a lot. They find it difficult to open up, to organize themselves, to attract artists [...] In this particularly trying context, the Tanbou project brings hope," reiterating the importance "of safeguarding cultural ties and the common heritage of which we are all the custodians."

Marc Dubernet, Director of the Atlantic Ocean Region at AFD, underlined "Tanbou will indeed allow cultural actors and actresses to have a new place for rehearsal, representation and networking. Thanks to training programs abroad and within the 'Fabrique des Arts', the technical capacities of more than 100 professionals and cultural operators will be strengthened. It is about allowing artists to live with dignity from their art," adding, Tanbou is "a first in the sector of cultural and creative industries in Haiti. In a context of deep socio-economic inequalities, the Fabrique des arts will be a place of debate and social inclusion. The activities that will be implemented there will promote gender equality and the participation of young people from working-class neighborhoods. The Tanbou project will be a vector of and will therefore contribute to the reconstruction of social ties in Haiti."

See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-38053-icihaiti-culture-the-ministry-and-unesco-to-the-rescue-of-the-village-of-noailles.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37935-haiti-flashthe-village-of-noailles-victim-of-the-gang-war-at-least-15-dead.html

HL/ HaitiLibre