Beginning in March, a $1.4-million beautification project titled "Beauty versus Poverty: Jalousie in Colors" is currently underway in the Jalousie slum in Haiti, as part of a larger effort by the Haitian government to relocate people from post-2010-earthquake displacement camps. Home to 45,000 inhabitants, the concrete buildings in this shantytown are being painted in bright colours in an attempt to create a decent neighbourhood that residents can be proud of, particularly as it is visible on the mountainside to the wealthy districts of Port-au-Prince below. The project is inspired by admired Haitian artist Préfète Duffaut's painting of "cities-in-the-skies".
As I stated in a previous post, art in its various forms can be a tool for development. It might not always be the art itself or its message that is creating a positive change, but often the circumstances surrounding the art, the way in which it brings people together, or the processes involved in creating the art. However, while I am a huge advocate for the power of art, I have to question its effectiveness in the case of the Jalousie project.
On the one hand, the intentions are seemingly good (though many critics question the true motives -- I wonder though why so much money would be spent on this project if it was just to improve the image of the Haitian government). The result is definitely aesthetically appealing and I see the benefits in terms of creating a sense of morale and pride within the slum.
But will this project actually get to the root of the problem and improve the lives of the 45,000 residents living in poverty? And will it be worth the $1.4 million spent? Probably not. The Haitian government needs to ensure that the rest of their plans for relocating displaced citizens are not neglected, and that they work towards improving living conditions within the slum and reducing the risk from natural hazards. Furthermore, instead of spending money on painting, it could have been invested into a community centre, or locals could have employed to collaborate, plan and implement a beautification project themselves. Instead of being a project funded by the government, the impact likely would have been greater if local artists from within the shantytown decided to do this out of their own interest and with intrinsic goals that would benefit the greater slum community.
So, while projects such as these can boost morale and pride of the people, this is only one part of tackling the larger issues of slums in countries like earthquake-devastated Haiti. Can you suggest any better ways to target the real issues?
As I stated in a previous post, art in its various forms can be a tool for development. It might not always be the art itself or its message that is creating a positive change, but often the circumstances surrounding the art, the way in which it brings people together, or the processes involved in creating the art. However, while I am a huge advocate for the power of art, I have to question its effectiveness in the case of the Jalousie project.
On the one hand, the intentions are seemingly good (though many critics question the true motives -- I wonder though why so much money would be spent on this project if it was just to improve the image of the Haitian government). The result is definitely aesthetically appealing and I see the benefits in terms of creating a sense of morale and pride within the slum.
But will this project actually get to the root of the problem and improve the lives of the 45,000 residents living in poverty? And will it be worth the $1.4 million spent? Probably not. The Haitian government needs to ensure that the rest of their plans for relocating displaced citizens are not neglected, and that they work towards improving living conditions within the slum and reducing the risk from natural hazards. Furthermore, instead of spending money on painting, it could have been invested into a community centre, or locals could have employed to collaborate, plan and implement a beautification project themselves. Instead of being a project funded by the government, the impact likely would have been greater if local artists from within the shantytown decided to do this out of their own interest and with intrinsic goals that would benefit the greater slum community.
So, while projects such as these can boost morale and pride of the people, this is only one part of tackling the larger issues of slums in countries like earthquake-devastated Haiti. Can you suggest any better ways to target the real issues?