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    The Brooklyn-based non-profit Haiti Cultural Exchange (HCX), which was established to develop, present, and promote the cultural expressions of the Haitian people, has launched an open call cycle for a new cohort of Lakou NOU artists-in-residence. The institution showcases and hosts cultural engagement, art exhibitions, artist residency for Haitian-based artists, community events, and youth arts education, among several other educational programs. Lakou NOU, one of the organization's many initiatives, is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary. Moreover, the artist-residence supports the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Crown Heights, Canarsie, East Flatbush, and Flatbush, said HCX. In all, the program prides itself in working collaboratively with Haitian artists that are interested in tackling the socio-political issues, such as cultural identity, intergenerational connection, traditional practices, forced migration, and revolution, among other interests.   “The incorporation of the professional development workshops helped to define and ground my project; especially the session on impact.” said Stephanie Pierre, a former cohort participant in 2024.  [caption id="attachment_85093" align="aligncenter" width="700"]Artwork hands on the wall inside Haiti Cultural Exchange's space in Brooklyn. Artwork hands on the wall inside Haiti Cultural Exchange's space in Brooklyn.Orlande Fleury[/caption] HCX emphasizes that, “in rural Haiti, the Lakou communal living system embodies the intersection of land, family, and spirituality. Former enslaved people created the Lakou in resistance to the racial and class divides perpetuated by colonial plantations. By organizing around shared land, the Lakou promotes economic equity and avoids exploitation. Lakou NOU (“Our Yard” in Haitian Creole) is a creative adaptation of this traditional model.” Haiti Cultural Exchange further stated that its aim is to invest in artists of Haitian descent, positioning their creative talents as a resource of the community, developing new creative works and uniting diverse stakeholders around mutual aims. Additionally, the program is designed to support emerging artists interested in place-based creativity and highlight community-led activism. A previous artist, Georgie Exinord, who participated in the cohort in 2025, stated that, “Being a Lakou NOU artist has been the single greatest thing to happen to my career so far. It's a rare gift to be supported in actualizing your project fantasies, and the network of other incredible artists I gained alongside it did wonders for my artistic confidence that I honestly can't fully measure.”  Lakou NOU's artists-in-residency program is proudly supported by the Jerome Foundation and the applications are now open for interested artists. 
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