The Inter-American Development Bank has launched the “Haiti’s Colors of Hope” campaign to raise donations in cash and art supplies for Haitian artists affected by the Jan. 12 earthquake. The embassies of Argentina, Guatemala, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela in Washington, D.C. are also supporting the September 9-16 campaign.
During the week-long drive the IDB will seek contributions from its staff, their families and former employees, as well as from persons in the Washington region interested in helping Haitian artists. The Utrecht arts supplies store (1250 I Street, NW) is offering a discount for donated materials. The Nader Museum and Art Gallery of Port-au-Prince will distribute the art supplies in Haiti.
As part of the campaign, on Monday, September 13, a group of locally based Latin American and Caribbean artists will lead participants in a collective painting session to fill blank canvasses symbolizing Haiti’s current plight and its hopes for a better future. The event will take place at 5 pm in the atrium of the IDB’s headquarters (1300 New York Ave, NW).
Les Petits Chanteurs, an internationally acclaimed Haitian youth and children choir, will offer a recital at the IDB on Thursday, September 16. After the concert, scheduled for 3 pm, the choir will receive a donation of musical instruments from the Inter-American Cultural Foundation.
Persons and institutions interested in contributing to the “Haiti’s Colors of Hope” campaign can contact Marta Estarellas, coordinator of the IDB-DC Solidarity Program, at martae@iadb.org or (202) 623-1559.