France’s
seventh Semaine de l’Amérique latine et des Caraïbes (Latin America and
Caribbean Week / SALC) has been cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Numerous
cultural and educational activities had been scheduled for the period May 19 to
June 6 throughout the country, but although France’s eight-week lockdown is set to end May 11, most public
events will still be restricted.
“Unfortunately,
the health crisis we currently face and the timetable set for the gradual
resumption of activity force us to cancel,” said Philippe Bastelica, secretary
general of the SALC at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “I know how
disappointed all those who have invested in this project will feel.”
In previous
years, the government and a range of associations spotlighted the cultures of
the Americas with exhibitions, colloquia, book launches, concerts and other
events - to celebrate links between France and the two regions.
In 2017, the
focus was on the Caribbean, with shows such as the “Jamaica Jamaica!”
exhibition about the history of the island’s music (see the SWAN
article) and a retrospective of the work of Cuban artist Joaquin Ferrer. In
2019, the events included a discussion of the rights of indigenous peoples and
films on the Cuban revolution, at the Institute of Latin American Studies
(Université Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris 3).
Bastelica said the
SALC will be “reborn” in 2021, a year that will be “richer and brighter than
ever”. - SWAN
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