Les Jacmeliens V

Through the photography of Bob Metelus, and a series of artist talks, and a film screening, the Haitian Heritage Museum explores how the Contemporary Afro-Caribbean voice can affect change. An event in partnership with the Colombian Museum of Business and Culture (MECCOL) in which artists explore the same theme in relation to Colombia with live painting will also take place.

This new conversation can begin by engaging the community and inviting the stakeholders to participate in a series of lectures and an exhibition that explore the manner in which Afro-Caribbean artists‘ voices can be supported in order to propel change. The doors for the discussion of their voices’ ability to affect the culture need to be opened. We believe that through the exploration of the impact of the Afro-Caribbean artists’ role in society, the subsequent impact of needed patronage can be understood. Furthermore, the discussion of the impact that content and narrative has can allow for connections to be made between the work being created by the Afro- Caribbean community as well as the work being created by other minority communities. Bringing the communities together by focusing attention to the mutual contents can advance collaboration between them. Such an exhibition and lecture series would highlight just how Afro-Caribbean art is shaping the community and can affect how it impacts society at large.

This lecture series would allow for a greater understanding of the importance of patronage to further the impact of Afro-Caribbean contemporary art as it relates to community development.