Urban Creative Arts Workshops-Haiti Arts Exchange

As a extremely imaginative child, I dreamed of bright colors, clouds, and changing the world in some immaculate way.  I would often daydream of what changing the world would resemble, if given the opportunity.  Now, 20 years later,  as an arts educator, independent artist, entrepreneur and curator, my childhood dreams have come to fruition.
 

CREATE-TRAVEL-LIVE
International Creative Arts Exchange program


 
Newark, NJ- Artist, poet and arts educator, Kween Moore, will return for the second year to Cap-Haïtien, Hati in July of 2019. Moore’s program has also been invited to teach in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, during the summer of 2019 in partnership with the YMCA-TNT arts program.  Moore’s intensive summer arts program explores cultural connectivity in urban environments throughout the world.  Moore has taught arts programming in Greensboro, NC, New Haven, CT, Brooklyn, New York, NY, and has been teaching in Newark, NJ and surrounding cities for the past eight years.
 
During Ms. Moore’s initial visit to Haiti with Black Arts Retreat, Moore witnessed the immense talent of young artists throughout Haiti and observed the connection to her own work.  More importantly, a program was created specifically to further the development and appreciation of artistic talent in the next generation of young Haitian artisans. Moore developed CREATE-TRAVEL-LIVE, an arts exchange program between Haitians and the African diaspora that teaches the arts and redesigns what artistic and cultural dialogue can look like.                             

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
Ms. Moore has created an exchange initiative between the Newark artistic community
and the Cap-Haitien-based company HaitiDansCo taking place following her return from Haiti in
2018.  Approximately eight artists, dancers, and musicians will arrive in the U.S., touring New Orleans, Chicago, New York, and Newark, New Jersey, in September 2019, teaching an intensive on traditional Haitian folklore dance. 



“My visit to Haiti in 2018 is one of the purest experiences in all my travels and career as a creative.  I wasn’t aware that exploring and working throughout Haiti would have such an incredible impact on my life as an artist.  I couldn’t have prepared for the learning and teaching opportunities, the food, the pride of the Haitian people, the incredible Haitian artists and rapport I built in the villages. 


While visiting Cap-Haïtien, Port Au Prince, Petition-ville, the Citadel (Milot, Haiti), Montrouis, and St. Michel, I noticed that each location provided a feeling of urban influence that celebrated their African roots and the Diaspora.  When the invitation to return to teach in Haiti was extended, I realized that I had made in imprint on the people of Haiti through art.  I also noticed that the children of Haiti were eager to create despite the language barrier".  



“In 2018 Black Arts Retreat traveled to Haiti for an adventure that was part tourism, part service and all creative exchange, said Kelly Greenlight, Founder of Black Arts Retreat. “During that trip we were able to bring a college student to her parent’s home island for the first time and host a day of art making with a school of children in Saint-Michel-de-l'Attalaye. Kween Moore’s design prowess was key in structuring the scholarship process and making an exciting program for the young artists of Saint Michel!



A GoFundMe campaign has been established to raise funds for the Urban Creative Arts Workshops (UCAW) team in their efforts to lead their arts program in Haiti as well as Haiti Dansco’s arrival to the United States.  The entire cost of both exchange programs between UCAW (international shipping cost of art materials, travel, lodging, art materials for classes, transportation and film crew) and Haiti Dansco, (visas, flights, food, lodging, transportation and studio space) will total $15,000 USD. UCAW needs your support with monetary donations and art supplies to make this effort a massive success.   



The "CREATE-TRAVEL-LIVE" partnerships include:

NEW JERSEY FOR HAITI- NJ

FIRST REPUBLIC HAITIAN LOUNGE-Elizabeth, NJ

LINKS HALL

DJASPORA PRODUCTIONS

CITY OF NEWARK- CENTERS OF HOPE

BE ORIGINAL CLOTHING COMPANY

MONEY LONG MEDIA

The mission of the Legacy Arts Project, Inc

The Silhouette Dance Ensemble

Selke Dimanche