Transcultura highlights the role of youth in promoting the diversity of cultural expressions

On 8 June 2023, the UNESCO programme Transcultura: Integrating Cuba, the Caribbean and the European Union through Culture and Creativity, funded by the European Union, organized the panel discussion “Fostering cultural diversity through youth empowerment in the Caribbean”, in the framework of the 9th Conference of Parties to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, held from 6 to 8 June at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.  

In his opening remarks, the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, Ernesto Ottone R., underscored the achievements of the Transcultura programme in its three years of implementation to support young Caribbean artists and professionals.

The Director for Human Development, Migration, Governance and Peace in the European Commission's International Partnerships Directorate, Erica Garretsen, gave opening remarks via a video message to underline the importance of supporting young people as agents for promoting cultural diversity and sustainable development, as part of the preparations for the EU-CELAC summit to be held in Brussels in July.

The panel discussion, moderated by Alessandra Borchi, Transcultura Programme Coordinator, brought together Yahima Esquivel, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Cuba to UNESCO; Radu Butum, Deputy Permanent Delegate of the European Union to UNESCO; and Anne Lemaistre, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for Culture in Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, it convened young Caribbean creators such as the Cuban singer, composer and tresera (player of the tres, a traditional Cuban stringed instrument) Yarima Blanco, who in October 2021 performed with her band Son Latino at the World Music Expo (WOMEX), in Porto, Portugal, with the support of Transcultura. The Haitian Ar Guens Jean Mary, one of the 10 young poets from the Caribbean participating in the ‘Marché de la poésie’ (Poetry Market) in Paris from 7 to 11 June, with sponsorship by Transcultura, also shared his experience.  

In order to enhance cultural diversity, the speakers highlighted the importance of supporting the professionalisation of the cultural and creative sectors in the Caribbean, as well as of promoting opportunities for young people, especially in a post-COVID context that has led to a professional reorientation and loss of confidence to build a career in this field for many young artists.  

In this regard, Ms Blanco and Mr Jean Mary shared the experience gained from their participation in major international events and testified to the way Transcultura has influenced the development of their professional careers.