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The Nice Carnival marches to the rhythm of the Caribbean |
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14 February 2023/ UNESCO Havana
A troupe of twenty young carnival performers from the Dominican Republic filled the Nice Carnival with rhythm and colour. The programme Transcultura: Integrating Cuba, the Caribbean and the European Union through Culture and Creativity, implemented by UNESCO and funded by the European Union, supported the participation of these artists in Nice with the aim of promoting the rich cultural diversity of the Caribbean in Europe, as well as fostering professional exchanges with their peers from Nice and other parts of the world. The Nice Carnival is considered the most important carnival in France and one of the most renowned in Europe.
"Carnivals are, of course, festivals of colour and joy, but they also play an important social role as a vector of identity and social cohesion, while generating jobs and income through tourism. Through this partnership with the Nice Carnival, UNESCO and the European Union are building a path of cooperation between Caribbean and European carnivals."
Anne Lemaistre, Director, UNESCO Regional Office for Culture in Latin America and the Caribbean
The Dominican Carnival artists took part in the grand parade commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Nice Carnival, as well as in the traditionals ‘Parade of Lights’ and the ‘Flower Battle’, in front of an audience of over 15,000 people.
"This edition of the Nice Carnival pays tribute to the "treasures of the world" and the arrival of the Caribbean, thanks to the support of UNESCO and the European Union, is an unprecedented treasure. With this colourful and different participation, we want to show the diversity and pique the curiosity of our public."
Caroline Constantin, Director of the Nice Carnival
Promoting networking and cultural exchange
The ‘Carnival Village’, a public leisure area in the heart of Nice, hosted a stand on Caribbean carnivals and the Transcultura programme, where Dominican carnival performers were able to interact directly with visitors. These artists, all under the age of 35, also participated in the professional workshop ‘Young artists as agents of innovation, development and the future of carnivals’, held on Sunday 12 February. With the other carnival artists in Nice, they talked about the opportunities that these celebrations offer for young people and strategies for their sustainability.
"It was a great privilege to interact with people from other parts of the world and learn from their cultures and traditions. It is something that will, without a doubt, broaden my artistic and professional vision."
Jairo Leonardo Reyes Rodríguez, Dominican carnival artist
With this initiative, UNESCO's Transcultura programme aims to create opportunities for young people in the cultural and creative sector through exchanges and the promotion of cultural tourism.
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Related Link(s): Cultural Industries, Intangible Heritage, Cultural Diversity, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
, Cultural Policies, Culture and Development |
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