stories
FOKAL and its partners opened La Fabrique des Arts, a new cultural space for artists and communities in South Haiti
october 29, 2026 | Ayiti Demen
As Port-au-Prince continues to face significant security challenges, southern Haiti is emerging as a new center of development. With a new international airport under construction and growing private-sector investment, the region is positioning itself for growth. Alongside these economic developments, investments in the cultural and creative sectors are helping strengthen community life and support local talent.
Originally planned for implementation in Port-au-Prince, La Fabrique des Arts was relocated to Les Cayes earlier this year by FOKAL and its partners. Based in Les Cayes since April 2026, La Fabrique des Arts is a nonprofit cultural institution dedicated to promoting the performing arts, providing artistic training, and supporting cultural actors in southern Haiti. It is led by a consortium of cultural organizations, with FOKAL serving as the lead partner, and is funded by the French Development Agency (AFD).
‘Its mission is to strengthen the capacity of arts and culture organizations and professionals; to organize and revitalize the local cultural scene; to support multidisciplinary artistic creation in Les Cayes and the surrounding region; and to provide both the artistic community and the public with a welcoming space for work, collaboration, and free expression.
Tangible Results in Just a Few Months
Following a presentation in Port-au-Prince in February, La Fabrique des Arts launched its activities in April with the opening performance, “Mots, Voix, Mouvement” (Words, Voices, Movement). The performance, which drew a large audience to the stage at La Cayenne, was the culmination of a poetry workshop led by Michèle Lemoine.
Training and sharing. A professional development workshop trained approximately fifteen tambourine players in traditional Haitian rhythms, culminating in a public concert. A weekly drumming class, conducted in partnership with IPDEC, welcomes young beginners. Since September 26, a folk dance class has brought together 25 young people to learn traditional dances, accompanied by young drummers from the workshops.
Nurturing new talent. Theater workshops, conducted in collaboration with the Lakou Kannari troupe and young people from the Alliance Française des Cayes, are introducing aspiring performers to the craft. A comedy masterclass accompanied the SST performance, which attracted an audience of more than 500 people. Five young artists wrote sketches inspired by the lives of women in Haiti, which were presented during the “Women, Voices, Rights” concert on October 3.
Funding and structuring projects. More than twenty young people participated in a project-pitch workshop. Ten projects were selected, and their creators are being mentored by professionals to develop comprehensive proposals and compete for funding through La Fabrique des Arts’ next call for projects.
Reflecting on the sector. A series of meetings brought together artists, organizational leaders, and cultural professionals to discuss the challenges facing Haiti’s Greater South, including infrastructure, funding, communication, the dissemination of artistic works, and career development. One of these gatherings was attended by a delegation that included Edwidge Danticat. The screening of all ten episodes of the documentary web series Ayiti, Dèt la, produced by FOKAL, also sparked discussions about Haiti’s independence debt.
Recent Highlights
In October, La Fabrique des Arts hosted a cultural management workshop, followed by a showcase featuring participants in an intensive theater workshop led by Néhémie Bastien. Audiences also had the opportunity to attend his performance, Légère, which further enriched the cultural programming offered in Les Cayes.
La Fabrique des Arts is also continuing its performing arts infrastructure project to expand spaces for creation, rehearsal, training, and performance throughout Haiti’s Greater South. Although the facility remains under construction, it is already helping artists develop their skills, strengthen their projects, and connect with new audiences.
Alternatively, if you would still like a forward-looking section, you could rename it:
Looking Ahead
Building on its successful first months of activity, La Fabrique des Arts is continuing its cultural programming and infrastructure development efforts. The institution remains committed to expanding opportunities for artistic creation, training, and performance throughout Haiti’s Greater South. Although the facility is still under construction, it is already serving as a catalyst for artistic development, project incubation, and audience engagement.
