Renovation of the Jacques Alexis Cultural Center

We are thrilled to be able to serve as a Fiscal Sponsor to Barbara's Fund with the intent of renovating some of the Colonial Era Prison in Cap Haitian. The former prison, once the site of unimaginable human suffering, is now full of the sounds of children joyfully making music, learning, and playing!

Currently housing the Ministry of Culture for the north and ISPAN (the Institute for the Protection of Historic Monuments) as well as a secondary school, it is wonderful to have a very active, lively music school integrated into the site.

The Jacques Alexis Cultural Center

One wing of the prison, where women were once held, is now the Jacques Alexis Cultural Center and this is in the process of being totally transformed!  Here, a few photos are worth a thousand words. Take a look to see how this project started and what has been done to date. 

In Haitian culture, a "kombit" is when a community gathers together to complete a challenging project - somewhat like a barnraising in days of yore. The CEMUCHCA Institute of Music called on teachers and students to spend several days cleaning up the courtyard and buildings - what they accomplished in just a few days of intensive labor is remarkable!

A lot of hard work went into cleaning up the site - these are all students and teachers from the CEMUCHCA Institute of Music and some of its annexes. (March, 2024)

The courtyard has been cleared and, already, the space is already being used for concerts, rehearsals, sectionals…all the daily activities of a bustling music school. (March 2024)

And, this is where Barbara’s Fund enteres the picture. Thanks to the intercession of a dedicated volunteer teacher, a grant was secured to cover most of the costs of:

• Roofing for the two wings of the building you saw pictured above

• Flooring in to the second floor

• Flooring the balcony and adding railing

• Creating a staircase for access to the upper floor

  WOW!!!

As you can see, by late June a tremendous amount has been accomplished! The roofing is mainly finished on both wings; for the most part, the second story has flooring, the balconies are being worked on and planning is in place for the staircase!

Barring unforeseen circumstances, we expect the Cultural Center to be fully operational by the beginning of the CEMUCHCA/BLUME Haiti camp in early July.

By supporting the completion of the renovation of the Jacques Alexis Cultural Center, Barbara’s Fund is not only contributing to the growth and development of one of Haiti's most important music schools but is also helping to provide the community, and indeed, the country, with a vibrant cultural space. Their investment will have a lasting impact on the cultural landscape of Cap Haitian and beyond. THANK YOU!!!