UNESCO Showcases Results of Artistic Creation Support Project in Haiti

The UNESCO Office in Haiti held a presentation evening at the Royal Oasis Hotel in Pétion-ville to showcase the results of a project supporting artistic creation, backed by UNESCO's Heritage Emergency Fund, according to icihaiti.com. The event drew Haitian government representatives, heads of UN agencies, the Resident Coordinator and cultural sector partners. Artists and beneficiaries performed theater, music, song and dance, highlighting the diversity of talent involved in the project. Organizers presented the initiative's key results: five cultural projects supported, nearly 100 direct beneficiaries, 50 cultural practitioners trained and six cultural projects structured. UNESCO Representative Eric Voli Bi called on national and international partners to continue investing in the cultural sector, stating, "Culture is not a luxury for times of peace; it is the glue that prevents a nation from collapsing." UN Resident Coordinator Nicole Boni Kouassi emphasized culture as an essential resource for preserving social cohesion and strengthening resilience. Minister of Culture Emmanuel Ménard said the Haitian State had maintained funding for cultural projects despite the ongoing crisis, and announced the opening of the first House of Culture in Port-au-Prince, featuring a permanent sales exhibition for artists and artisans, particularly those from the Croix-des-Bouquets cut-metal sector.