Rebuilding Economy through Art
Working with Burners Without Borders, Burning Man provided grant support to the Jakmel Ekspresyon Art Center in Jacmel, Haiti to purchase screen-printing equipment and create an artist-in-residency program. As a result, three volunteers have been teaching advanced business and screen-printing skills to 15 marginalized artists who are leveraging the opportunities available through the yearly Carnaval celebration. This will be the first time that these artists will receive a steady income for their creative endeavors.
After experiencing a 7.0 earthquake in 2010, the historic town of Jacmel in southern Haiti was left in shambles – along with its vibrant artisan community. To meet the needs of many artists seeking a place to work and grow, the Jakmel Ekspresyon Community Arts Center was founded later that year. Since then, it has become a vital community resource for the city, devoted to helping community members develop their personal voices and economic stability by providing resources, training, and equipment.