Guadeloupe port scoops ESPO award

Guadeloupe Ports Caraïbes won the 2017 Award for its project, Port’Art, which is intended to appeal to a grassroots audience and address day-to-day objects and topics.

“The cultural and artistic engagement and commitment of Guadalupe Port Caraïbes in linking the port to its host community illustrated the power of a big heart to transcend modest means. It has proved to be a popular winner of the ESPO award 2017,” said Pat Cox, the chairman of the jury.

Port-Art intiative

The theme of the 9^th edition of the ESPO Award was ‘Art and Cultural involvement of the port’. Caraïbes’ Port’Art initiative has been built and developed in line with the situation and challenges faced by the local region.

It has involved the port providing the general public with access to local port heritage, supporting local artistic creativity, sponsoring initiatives with a maritime and heritage appeal and cultural initiatives that address the preservation of tropical biodiversity and raising awareness of local port culture.

Viviane François-Julien, manager of the communication and international relations, Guadeloupe Ports Caraïbes, said: “By giving residents the opportunity to visit historic buildings or by turning port facilities into art and cultural venues, we encourage people to come and get to know their port and gain a full sense of ownership of it in a different way.”

This year, the ESPO Award 2017 saw 13 projects from ports from all over Europe compete for the prize. Guadeloupe Ports Caraïbes beat shortlisted projects from the ports of Antwerp, Brest, Oslo and Venice.