Le Centre d’Art in Port-au-Prince, Haiti before 2010 earthquake

Le Centre d’Art, also known as Centre d’Art d'Haïti, is an art center, art school and art gallery located in

Port-au-Prince Port-au-Prince ( , ; ht, Pòtoprens ) is the capital and most populous city of Haiti. The city's population was estimated at 987,311 in 2015 with the metropolitan area estimated at a population of 2,618,894. The metropolitan area is define ...

Haiti Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and ...

. It was founded in 1944 by American

watercolorist Watercolor (American English) or watercolour (British English; see spelling differences), also ''aquarelle'' (; from Italian diminutive of Latin ''aqua'' "water"), is a painting method”Watercolor may be as old as art itself, going back to t ...

DeWitt Peters and several prominent Haitians from the intellectual and cultural circles. In 2010, the center's building was destroyed; by 2012 they continued offering classes; and the center's new building is scheduled to reopen by 2021.

History

The institution was at the center of what became known as the Haitian Art Movement, educating and exhibiting founding artists including Albert Mangones, Gerald Bloncourt,

Maurice Borno Maurice Borno (1917–1955) was a Haitian painter. Born in Port-au-Prince, Borno attended school in Haiti, New York City, and Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 reside ...

Rigaud Benoit Rigaud Benoit (1911–1986) had become one of the three or four most highly prized Haitian artists well before his death. Early life A native of Port-au-Prince, Benoit had been a shoemaker, musician, and taxi driver before making his living as a ...

Hector Hyppolite Hector Hyppolite (1894–1948) was a Haitian painter. Considered as the "Grand Maître of Haitian Art" Born in Saint-Marc, Hyppolite was a third generation Vodou priest, or houngan. He also made shoes and painted houses before taking up fine a ...

, Daniel Lafontant, Marie-Josée Nadal, Rose-Marie Desruisseaux, and

Luce Turnier Luce Turnier (February 24, 1924 – 1994) was a Haitian painter and collage artist. One of Haiti's leading artists, Turnier achieved international renown for her fusion of Haitian culture and modernist style. Early life, education, and work Tur ...

. Le Centre d’Art was destroyed in the 2010 earthquake and many artworks from its collection was damaged. The

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...

as well as several other local and international organisations has since collaborated with recovery and conservation efforts. The center has continued their art classes and workshops starting in 2012. In December 2019, Le Centre d’Art purchased a large

gingerbread Gingerbread refers to a broad category of baked goods, typically flavored with ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon and sweetened with honey, sugar, or molasses. Gingerbread foods vary, ranging from a moist loaf cake to forms nearly as crisp as ...

mansion in the area of Pacot,

. The purchase was made possible with donors such as

Fondation de France The Fondation de France ("Foundation of France") is an independent administrative agency which was established by the French government in an effort to stimulate and foster the growth of private philanthropy and private foundations in France.Fon ...

. The center is planning to open at the new location in 2021.

References

External links

Official website
{{Authority control Haitian art Port-au-Prince Organizations established in 1944