The Ministry of Culture and Communication (MCC) of Haiti and the Delegation of the European Union (EU) have officially launched in Haiti, Thursday, March 3, 2011 at the Karibe Hotel, the support program for the strengthening of the culture and art for the social and economic development of Haiti (ARCADES), financed by the European Union for €3.7 million (± $5 million).

The project has as main objective to contribute to economic and social development of Haiti by strengthening the cultural sector in the country. The four components of the program which are the support to the sectoral policy of the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the support to the development of the sector, the establishment of a program of support to the cultural initiatives and finally the creation of a virtual cultural center, aimed to enhancing the professional ability, the creativity and the image of the cultural sector in Haiti.

The financing agreement of the ARCADES Program between the European Union and Haiti was signed in April 2010 by Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Development and Jean Max Bellerive, Haiti's Prime Minister, through the formulation of the first projects ofsupport to the reconstruction of the country funded by the European Union following the devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010.

HL/ HaitiLibre