Last week’s devastating earthquake in Haiti, that practically destroyed its capital city of Port-au-Prince and affected over a million Haitians, mobilized not just the official governments and NGOs of the international community, but also the art world to provide help for Haiti.

 

One of the first to react to the earthquake that it Haiti on January 12 was Gustavo Araoz, the President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).

 

In his letter, published online the very next day after the disaster, Araoz calls for ICOMOS members to volunteer in the heritage recovery process in Haiti. He writes:

 

"The horrifying news about the earthquake in Haiti gives all indications of major devastation and loss. Once the immediate human relief effort is over, I call on all ICOMOS members to come together in solidarity to help in whatever way we can with the heritage recovery process."

 

Mr. Araoz was the first enlisted volunteer.

 

He also addresses a message to the National Committees worldwide:

 

"For those National Committees from countries with disaster recovery experience, we also ask that you urge your government and other national institutions to be generous with their assistance."

 

Gustavo Araoz calls Haiti a special place for him, because it was in Haiti at the Citadel, and later at the Palais de Sans-Souci in Cap-Haïtien, that he had his very first projects as head of the OAS heritage assistance mission.

 

The International Council on Monuments and Sites is an association of professionals that works for the conservation and protection of cultural heritage places.

 

Members of Vivant Art Collection gallery and the Haitian Professionals of Philadelphia (HPP) were also affected by the tragedy in Haiti. In a common letter, they wrote: "It has been a difficult night. Many of us are in a state of shock or, more fittingly, in disbelief."

 

Vivant Art Collection and HPP call for help in providing money, food, medicine and other supplies for the people of Haiti. They tried to reach out to everyone, including Haitian Student Associations, Haitian organizations, and political officials to encourage them to help Haiti recover from this disaster.

 

The Haitian Professionals of Philadelphia (HPP) was established in 2008 to help elevate Philadelphia’s Haitian community through education, professional development, and mentorship.

 

Another act of charity came from Martinican artist Béatrice Mellinger. She will donate to Haiti her art sales proceeds from her show currently at VisArts Center through February 3rd in Rockville, MD.

 

"I was deeply moved by the situation in Haiti. This small country has endured so much – more than its fair share of tragedy. The idea of donating my proceeds of this show came naturally and immediately as the people of Haiti need our help and, as a Caribbean artist and citizen, I am culturally connected to this country. The magnitude of the catastrophe is such that we must all act; as a global community, we must be part of the recovery of Haiti and support its people," said Béatrice Mellinger.

 

In Aruba, artists are organizing a televised national art auction as part of a nationwide action to raise funds for the Haitian people. The auction is scheduled for February 9th. In addition, Aruba artist Stan Kuiperi is organizing a children's project to send drawings and letters to the children in Haiti.

 

On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, the worst in the region for the last two centuries, shook the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince and its surrounding towns. It practically destroyed the capital city, killing more than 114,000 people and injuring hundreds of thousands. Help from the international community continues to arrive in Haiti, but even now, over a week after the tragedy, lack of food, water and medicine still remain the main challenge for the Haitian people.