Haiti: Threatened cultural heritage and new opportunities

Haitis rich and varied cultural heritage has been widely admired. A surge of interest in positively affirming this heritage began in the 1940s and grew stronger from the 1980s, reaching a climax with the bicentenary commemoration in 2004. But the terrible events of 12 January 2010 halted the momentum, demonstrating that intangible heritage is fragile and at risk. Irreparable losses have been recorded. Government authorities and civil society have reacted quickly to save as much as possible, and the institutions responsible for safeguarding the countrys culture have shown a lot of determination. This shows there is an increased awareness of the importance of Haitis cultural inheritance, which, although it has been weakened, remains a beacon of hope and a real asset in the rebuilding of the country.