CO-FONDATEUR ET PRÉSIDENT DE ST-B’ART
PAR CLAIRE RICHER
Christian is a well-known fi gure on the island, renowned for his longstanding commitment to cultural activities in St-Barths. Generous and altruistic, he cherishes encounters and the sharing of beauty. His acute sense of aesthetics ermeates all the cultural activities he spearheads without boundaries. Here, he unveils his journey and deeply rooted convictions that color and guide his worldview.
What brought you to St-Barths?
After my first visit in 1986, I returned to St-Barths in 1997 during a second trip, sailing with my family to visit friends. Completely captivated by this magical island, at the time, we decided not to leave, opting to enroll our 5-year-old daughter in school here. It wasn’t planned at all to stay permanently; we were supposed to continue our journey in the Pacific!
Shortly after our arrival, following a wonderful encounter with Serge Perez, a writer, and Jean-Pierre Balagny, a painter, the idea and desire to develop cultural activities in St-Barths, which were scarce at the time, emerged. Over a drink at the Gamelle, we decided to create the SAINT-B’ART association.
Did you have a passion for cultural activities beforehand?
Although I was already playing the saxophone at the time, I had never been immersed in a cultural world. I come from a working-class family with fi ve siblings. We lived in the countryside, with limited access to culture. With my early departure from school, I felt a void in my knowledge. To fi ll this gap, I immersed myself in reading countless books and indulging in a diverse range of music. This sparked an insatiable thirst for knowledge in general and in the world of culture in particular, a thirst that still remains unquenched.
I’ve always had this burning desire, this thirst to learn and discover. With maturity, I felt the urge to pass on to both young and old alike this passion and sensitivity for beauty, be it in writing, music, painting, or nature.
What are the major initiatives of the association?
To kickstart its activities, the association organized a painting competition, coupled with an auction of pieces crafted by local artists. The proceeds were dedicated to sponsoring students from Kim’s dance school for a trip to France, where they could participate in a competition. We also lent our support to the Classical Music Festival, which, under the presidency of Frances Debroff at the time, and now helmed by Corinne Hennequin, delivered an extraordinary 40th edition.
In 2003, we organized free French classes for Portuguese workers arriving on the island to work in construction. Our aim was to foster their integration and improve communication between different communities. Today, over 20 nationalities are reaping the benefi ts of these free classes.
In 2004, we launched a short story contest exclusively for residents. It was a hit, attracting wonderful narratives, prompting us to extend it the next year to include budding young authors. This time around, we had 82 children sign up, showing that the writing passion instilled by Saint-B’ART volunteers yields the fruits of 20 years of dedication!
I extend my heartfelt thanks to the school teachers of the island who volunteer with the ST-B’ART association for their cultural contributions, with a special acknowledgment to Leila Nazzal.
The jazz festival was born in 2018 after successfully assembling the necessary resources and volunteers. The audience’s eyes sparkled with stars as they experienced live performances and relished the intimacy with exceptional musicians, prompting us to carry on. Each festival is a product of wonderful encounters Corinne and I have during our travels, meeting jazz musicians in clubs across the United States or Europe.
From March 17 to April 7, 2024, the 7th edition will host around thirty guests who will perform in 9
different venues.
Is this also the book festival?
With the book festival, our aim is to show how writers transport us beyond our everyday existence to illuminate our lives. Because I dislike boundaries, the fusion of the Book Festival and the Jazz Festival enables us to foster wonderful and unexpected connections between writers, comic book artists, and musicians, sometimes resulting in new creations!
This year, the competition theme is “Surfing on Words,” exploring connections between the sea, surfing, the environment, and writing. And with jazz musicians, they’ll ride the waves of Creole jazz rhythms.
What drives you to carry out so many activities?
What motivates me is the eagerness to share with artists who are inherently generous and humanistic, and to acquaint them with the people on the island.
Because knowledge is a force that enriches us, and in this era of uncertainty about our civilization, culture must ensure that people feel connected and uplifted in each other’s company.
I hold the belief that a society that promotes consumption as a means of fulfi llment is a dangerous one, which is why I strive for equilibrium.
How about your team?
I am surrounded by invaluable volunteers, whom I sincerely and warmly thank. Their selfl ess dedication deserves our utmost appreciation, especially in a time when volunteers are becoming increasingly rare.
8 volunteers make up the association’s Board of Directors. It is truly a beautiful team that has evolved over the past 22 years. I am quite happy to be able to bring together a team of enthusiasts who invest themselves generously: Leila, Corinne, Fabienne, Audra, Estelle, Didier, Pauline, Adeline.
What’s next?
We are planning the 8th, 9th, and 10th editions!!!
Certainly, we aspire to expand our cultural initiatives, but we are constrained by the availability of volunteers and fi nancial resources. While the new local government provides better support, we hope that professionals, including employees and their families who benefi t from our programs, recognize the importance of their support in sustaining live culture.
We eagerly anticipate the opening of the Cultural Center, a project in which I have been deeply involved since 2004, initially by proposing concepts with architect Patrick BENABEN, and later by collaborating on the current plans with Johannes and the local government. This center will seamlessly integrate into the daily life of residents, much like the stadium has become a hub for sports activities.
Although we may occasionally face challenges with funding and accommodation, our passion swiftly reignites, illuminating the vibrancy of live culture!
