Jacmel - Haiti
About Jacmel
Jacmel is a very special town, the joke being everybody is an artist there. Sometimes it feels that way, and over 80 artists and arts-inclined residents from Gainesville and around the US have been inspired by this community over our many delegations that have been hosted by them over the last 10 years.
Jacmel has trained scores of filmmakers at its Cine Institute, boasts a music school Dessaix Baptiste, with over 1,200 students, and is home to many art collectives. Its largest, San Da’, trains and work with some of the finest artists in Haiti and puts on Jacmel’s Karnaval, renowned across the world for its mastery of the art of papier-mache.
Founding: 1504 C.E.
Population: 137,996 (2019)
Ethnic groups: Haitian
Religions: Christianity, Folk Religion
Mayor: Edwin Zenny
Department: Sud-Est
Temperature averages: 31C/89F high, 23C/73F low
Elevation: 43m/141ft
Currency: Haitian Gourde
Airport: JAK
Since 2010
Since 2010, From Gainesville with Love has worked with leaders in the cultural and political community to help with their set forth goals of restoring Jacmel to its role as the premier destination in the Caribbean for cultural tourism. They have partnered with University of Florida’s Tourism department and the Jacmel mayor’s office in creating a redevelopment plan that includes a comprehensive trash collection plan, a tourism office, and the creation of an international music festival.
Additionally, we are producing a documentary that focuses on the exceptional arts culture of Haiti, and the role that the arts play in the lives of everyday Haitians.
The backbone of our program, though, is the relationship building and culture sharing between Jacmel and Gainesville, as well as its budding friendship cities of New Orleans and Austin, Texas.
Exchanges and Delegations
Each year artists from Jacmel visit the US, have the opportunity to share their arts and culture with school children in Gainesville, collaborate musically and artistically with local artists, and learn best practices in art by participation in Gainesville’s Downtown Arts Festival.
Stories
“We don’t have the abilities to explore different cultures as much as others do. We are able to come here and sell our work so we can learn and continue to collaborate.”
Prince Luc (Luckner Candio), leader of Fossaj Artist Collective, 2014
“Ideally the goal for [recording these songs] is preserving the traditional while making some of this accessible to Americans or Haitians. Some of this stuff is a great way to cross pollinate the musical styles that we love into a song we can play together.””
Brad Bulifant, co-founder of From Gainesville with Love, 2014