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The Centre d'Art is a cultural institution created in 1944 and recognized as a public utility in 1947, which works to promote artistic creation in Haiti. The Centre d'Art is considered as veritable melting pot for the plastic arts in Haiti.
An impetus from artists
Created under the impetus of American watercolorist DeWitt Peters, and Haitian intellectuals including Maurice Borno, Albert Mangonès, Geo Remponeau, Jean Chenet and Gerald Bloncourt, the Centre d’Art emerged at a time when there were no art galleries or public art schools in Haiti. Initially conceived as a training and production space for artists, the Centre quickly became a reference point for the dissemination of Haitian art.
The Centre d’Art gave rise to several generations of renowned visual artists, painters and sculptors such as Hector Hyppolite, Georges Liautaud, Édouard Duval Carrié and Iris. From 1945 onwards, it was the birthplace of the so-called “naïve” movement.
Foreign intellectuals and artists, such as the Cuban critic José Gómez Sicre in 1945 and the Frenchman André Breton in 1948, made a major contribution to the valorization and legitimization of the so-called “naive” painters, who went on to enjoy great success on the international art market.
The Centre d’Art conserves an important heritage comprising major works of Haitian painting and sculpture, as well as documents of great historical significance. It ensures the recognition of artistic creation. The result was the “Musée d’Art Haïtien du Collège St Pierre” (Collège St Pierre Museum of Haitian Art), which opened in 1972 on the Champ de Mars, Port-au-Prince’s main public square.
Frescoes on the walls of the Sainte-Trinité Cathedral in Port-au-Prince
The murals at the Sainte-Trinité Cathedral in Port-au-Prince, a landmark work of Haitian art, were also created by the Centre’s directors, DeWitt Peters and Selden Rodman, with the help of Monsignor Alfred Voegeli.
The Centre d’Art was also behind the creation of the first visual arts journal in Haiti, “STUDIO No. 3”. The first text on the history of Haitian art, “Panorama de l’art haïtien” (Panorama of Haitian Visual Arts), was written by one of the founders of the Centre d’Art, Philippe Thoby-Marcelin, in 1956.
By promoting the creations of its artists, the Centre d’Art laid the foundations of the Haitian art market and gave impetus to a new economic activity, which expanded with the development of tourism in the 1950s. It served as a pivotal point linking the art world to the public and to art promotion structures. It acts as an intermediary for international institutions acquiring works by Haitian artists, such as New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). He also became a referent for the first art galleries to spring up in Port-au-Prince.
In 1965, Francine Murat took over from DeWitt Peters and perpetuated the founder’s vision. She carried on the work, despite great financial difficulties, until its collapse on January 12, 2010.
The earthquake of January 12, 2010 severely affected the Centre d’Art. Following the collapse of the building and the death of its director, Francine Murat, the institution remained closed to the public for four years, until its 70th anniversary in November 2014, when it was reborn with temporary facilities installed in the garden of the historic space. The institution then resumed its activities with the public and artists: courses, lectures, meetings and exhibitions. At the same time, the team is working to enhance the Centre’s heritage, by conserving and inventorying its collection of works, photographs and related archives.