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An exhibition showcases the results of UNESCO and EU support to young Caribbean creatives
The photo exhibition ‘A Bridge between the Caribbean and Europe’ was inaugurated on 25 April 2023 at the UNESCO Regional Office for Culture for Latin America and the Caribbean in Havana, as part of the ‘European Month’ activities, organized by the Delegation of the European Union in Cuba. The pictures, displayed on the railings surrounding the UNESCO building, retrace the main achievements and impact of the UNESCO EU-funded programme Transcultura: Integrating Cuba, the Caribbean and the European Union through Culture and Creativity since its launch in 2020.
The photo exhibition, but also the presence of the artists who have taken part in the programme, show just how rich the cultural heritage in the Caribbean is, and how inspiring the exchange with the EU can be. I am excited to see the creativity here tonight and am looking forward to exchanging with all artists and cultural professionals.
The exhibition gathered a large audience, including representatives of European Union and Caribbean countries, cultural institutions, and Cuban beneficiaries and participants of Transcultura activities.
This cooperation between the European Union and UNESCO, through Transcultura, has enabled the creation of a real cultural bridge between the Caribbean and Europe, promoting intercultural dialogue, mutual learning and access to new markets for young Caribbean cultural professionals.
In the images, young creators such as Belizean fashion designer Ronelli Requena, Haitian filmmaker Ketlain Difficile and Cuban ceramist and entrepreneur Aurora Couret represent the more than 600 young artists and cultural professionals from 17 countries in the region who have received training and participated in exchange activities in the first three years of the programme.
Some of these young people, who were at the event, shared their experience of how their participation in the programme has contributed to the development of their careers.
Transcultura has not only allowed me to make my first short film, but it has also enabled me to meet and share professional insights with other colleagues from the Caribbean, an extremely enriching experience.
The event closed with a concert by the Cuban musician Yarima Blanco and her band Son Latino, who participated in the international fair WOMEX – World Music Expo 2021 in Porto, Portugal.
Promoting sustainable development through culture and creativity
The Transcultura programme harnesses the rich cultural diversity of the Caribbean turns it into a driver for sustainable development. Thanks to 15 million euros in funding from the European Union, it is the largest UNESCO project in Latin America and the Caribbean. With an innovative and cross-cutting approach, Transcultura positions culture and creativity as transformative and resilient forces in all its expressions: tangible and intangible cultural heritage, cultural and creative industries and cultural tourism. The programme fosters cooperation between the Caribbean and Europe to promote the professional development of young people through training, and through the creation of opportunities for entrepreneurship and access to new markets.
