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The FOKAL Cultural Center
In the heart of Port-au-Prince, the Cultural Center is a facility designed for meetings, training, reading, debates, recreation and discovery.
Thanks to funding from the Open Society Institute (OSI) and support from George Soros, FOKAL was able to build its own center, designed and constructed by the Haitian architect Gaylord Esper and his firm DesSo. The building's art-work and wood-work were created by the Haitain artist Iris and
a local firm
Promobois.
Within the center there is a public library, with a membership of over 5,000, a small auditorium, a café and a cybercafé all of
which are open to kids from the poor neighborhoods in the center
and periphery
of Port-au-Prince. The shows, workshops
and exhibits
enable these young people to meet artists, and intellectuals (both Haitian and foreign) and to gain access to information and knowledge.
FOKAL's cultural center offers a place, eminently rare in Haiti, where peasants, women, children and youths from poor neighborhoods have a chance to interact with each other and with representatives of all sectors of society on subjects which concern education, the environment, culture,
justice
and democracy.
The Cultural Center offers the following amenities:
The Monique Calixte
Library (BMC)
The library offers children from poor neighborhoods a chance to discover books, albums, magazines and CD’s and to read in pleasant surroundings. Activities are organized for the very young, including a kids reading corner, story-telling, theatre and art workshops, etc.; and for general members, meetings with writers, public readings, assistance with research, exhibits and topical workshops, etc.
The Cyber-café
Primarily conceived for the members of the Monique Calixte library, the cyber café is equipped with fifteen computers available for readers, as well as technical assistance to help members with research.
The Café Terrasse
A meeting place for everyone visiting the center and a training place for the young.
FOKAL's gardens
The gardens are used for recreation, exhibits and open-air events.
The Atrium
This open-air exhibit hall is used by regular visitors and the public in general to discover works of art and to meet both Haitian and visiting writer and sculptors.
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The training hall
The training hall was designed and built by the Haitian architect Frédérick Mangonès. This open-air space hosts training sessions, workshops, meetings and exhibits.
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