Heritage En Couleur: Art and Culture Showcase Event Recap
On Saturday, May 24th, the Heritage en Couleur: Art & Culture Showcase brought a celebration of Haitian identity to life at Island SPACE Caribbean Museum. The event welcomed guests of every background to explore the depth and beauty of Haitian heritage through art, performance, and community engagement.
The evening began with a lively cocktail hour, where guests mingled over refreshments and explored a wide selection of Haitian vendors. In Gallery B, featured artists Sophia Lacroix, Marie Maude Eliacin, Assaf Graffiti (Hamson Elysee), and Louivest Lacroix captivated attendees with live painting sessions. Guests were invited to observe each artist’s unique style up close, engage in conversation about their creative process, and witness the early strokes of their next masterpiece. Meanwhile, a community mural offered an interactive outlet for creative expression—guests were invited to pick up a brush and contribute their own strokes. This collaborative piece evolved throughout the evening, becoming a living, collective portrait signifying cultural unity.
As the mingling hour came to a close, Mandy Laguerre, Museum Manager at Island SPACE, offered a warm welcome, acknowledging the richness of Haitian culture and the importance of spaces that uplift and preserve it. She invited guests to support Island SPACE and their future endeavors. Her remarks set the stage for the formal program, which officially opened with the sound of a conch shell blown by host Mecca Grimo—a powerful nod to ancestral traditions and a ceremonial call to presence.
The performance segment was a journey through rhythm, voice, and storytelling. Mecca Grimo kicked off the set with an original piece before introducing high-energy performer Leslie Dalencourt, also known as BoomBoom, an international recording artist whose set delivered movement and music in bold, celebratory fashion. Singer and spoken word artist Rebecca J followed with a soulful blend of song and spoken word, captivating the crowd with her heartfelt performance. Mecca returned to close the artistic portion with a final spoken word piece that echoed themes of resilience, legacy, and joy.
The evening continued with a panel discussion featuring the Heritage En Couleur artists, who broke from their live painting sessions. The conversation offered space for reflection on both individual and collective experiences of the Haitian diaspora, and how those experiences affected each artist’s journey in their work. The panel discussion was followed by an audience Q&A that further deepened the dialogue.
A meet and greet session allowed guests to connect more personally with the featured artists as they returned to Gallery B where their work-in-progress lay, or joined the crowd in enjoying the event.
From there, the energy surged as the room transformed into a dance floor for the KOTR (Konpa On The Rise) dance class. Led by dance instructor Shayna, and Sonny, the CEO and founder of KOTR, the class was a full-body celebration of movement, rhythm, and Haitian spirit.
Shayna’s effortless grace and infectious energy drew everyone in, her fluid steps guiding beginners and seasoned dancers alike through the sensual, swaying motions of Konpa. Sonny brought the heat with charismatic leadership and undeniable presence, moving through the crowd with magnetic ease. Their chemistry on the dance floor was undeniable—each move they made together spoke to a deep connection with the music and the culture, full of energy, pride, and emotion.
Guests joined in, some shyly at first, while others jumped right into the groove. The room was alive with motion thanks to DJ Mega of Kingsbridge Music. Even those who didn’t get on the dance floor couldn’t help but sway along or capture the moment on their phones, caught up in the energy.
The Heritage en Couleur showcase was more than an event—it was a living, breathing testament to the endurance of Haitian culture and the power of community-rooted celebration.
Relive the event below!
Thanks to Our Sponsors
Island SPACE is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Broward County Cultural Division, BBX Capital Foundation, Community Reinvestment Alliance of Florida, “King” George Jograj, Dr. Lydia Malcom of Authentic Behavioral Health LLC, and her husband, Mr. Waynewright Malcolm, Alexandra P. Davis, and the following funds at the Community Foundation of Broward: Judith Cornfeld Fund for the Arts, Helen and Frank Stoykov Charitable Endowment Fund, and The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation Broward Community Fund.
About Island SPACE Caribbean Museum
Island SPACE Caribbean Museum is a cultural institution dedicated to the preservation and celebration of the Caribbean’s diverse heritage through exhibits, educational programs, and events that spotlight the region’s history, art, and music.
The facility features a historical archive filled with information and artifacts from across the Caribbean region, a fine art gallery and multipurpose spaces.
The public is invited to visit the museum Thursdays through Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. General museum entry is $15 per adult and $7.50 per child. Visit islandspacefl.org to learn more.
Get Involved
If you’d like to participate in future events or to get involved otherwise, here’s how you can:
Sponsor an upcoming event: Correo electrónico mu****@***********fl.org or call 954-999-0989
Become a vendor at an upcoming event: Correo electrónico mu****@***********fl.org or call 954-999-0989
Volunteer with us: https://islandspacefl.org/volunteer
Become a museum member: https://islandspacefl.org/membership
Plan your visit to the museum: islandspacefl.org/visit
Book an event with us: Correo electrónico mu****@***********fl.org or call 954-999-0989
