Art, in the bowels of the Caribbean, a silent revolution is taking shape. Far from idyllic beaches and tourist clichés, priority neighborhoods are reinventing themselves thanks to a powerful and unexpected weapon: art.
More than just an aesthetic expression, it becomes a catalyst for social change, a training tool for young people and a vector for urban beautification.
In the Beauperthuis residence in Pointe à Pitre, this transformation is palpable, thanks in particular to bold initiatives by SIKOA in collaboration with artist Alpacman and the Compagnons Bâtisseurs, who are succeeding in redefining the urban and social landscape.
Alpacman: an artist-engraver at the service of young people
Meet Alpacman, a passionate artist-graffiti artist who has made the street his studio and youth his priority. His atypical career, forged on the streets and in contact with other artists, bears witness to a thirst for learning and sharing.
“All my training was done on the streets and by meeting people like you.” – Alpacman
Today, he puts his experience at the service of others, helping young people to develop their artistic ideas. For Alpacman, the best medium for expression remains walls, floors and the urban space as a whole. It’s there, in the heart of the neighborhoods, that art takes on its full meaning, embellishing the environment, promoting social balance and stimulating the emergence of new projects.
The Beauperthius residence: an urban renaissance
The painted street
The story of the painted street at the Beauperthius residence is one of spectacular metamorphosis. Once an abandoned canal, littered with garbage and refuse, this space has become a place to live, share and create. Thanks to a rehabilitation project spearheaded by the mobilization of three associations – “Les Compagnons Bâtisseurs”, “Artiste en Mouvement” and “SEPSI” (Service des Équipements de Prévention Spécialisée et de l’Insertion) – as part of the Cap Excellence 2023 City Contract call for projects.
Concrete and pallet benches, built by local youngsters, invite conviviality. Playful games painted on the ground brighten children’s days. A wall, once soiled by electoral messages, is now adorned with a colorful fresco, created by the youngsters, which questions the indifferent gaze of our daily lives.
This project has not only transformed the physical space, but also the mentality. Inhabitants have reappropriated the site, maintaining and respecting it. Tourists flock to discover this urban art circuit, the fruit of collaboration between the artists and the city of Pointe-à-Pitre.
Paintings at the bottom of buildings
The paintings at the bottom of the Beauperthuis residence add a unique artistic touch, embellishing the residents’ daily lives.
Bricobus and SIKOA: A solidarity initiative for the Beauperthuis district
The Bricobuses are itinerant workshops committed to a solidarity-based approach, operating in areas where there is a persistent need to improve the quality of life, whether in rural, urban or suburban areas. Thanks to a partnership with SIKOA, a neighborhood workshop has been set up in Beauperthuis, in one of the towers. This project has made it possible to launch a solidarity workcamp, complementing the actions carried out by Artiste en mouvement, with several objectives:
- Embellish public spaces by building street furniture (benches, tables, planters).
- Strengthen local solidarity by involving local residents, volunteers and helpers.
- Encourage associative cooperation to maximize collective impact in the neighborhood.
The Compagnons Bâtisseurs project at Beauperthuis has enabled :
- Landscaping and cleaning green spaces with the involvement of residents.
- A DIY workshop Fabrication Ti ban, where young people designed street furniture.
- The construction of a converted carbet, which has become a meeting place for residents.
This initiative, supported by Bricobus and SIKOA, illustrates the importance of solidarity and participation in improving the living environment of local residents.
The Compagnons Bâtisseurs: participative workshops for all
Art plays a key role in revitalizing neighborhoods and strengthening social ties. The Bendola project, spearheaded by the association Artiste en mouvement and funded under the 2023 call for projects of the Cap Excellence City Contract, is fully in line with this dynamic. This initiative has brought new life to the Chanzy district and the area around the Beauperthuis towers, thanks to an art workshop, an exhibition space, the creation of murals and various multidisciplinary activities. The project has helped to integrate a number of young people who had been out of work, while involving local children in a stimulating and educational environment.
Artiste en mouvement ‘s work has been enthusiastically received by residents and users of the Beauperthuis area, helping to clean up and beautify the area by washing the ground and creating colorful frescoes on the walls and floors. Over and above its visual impact, this artistic approach fosters a sense of belonging and strengthens social cohesion.
In the same spirit, the Compagnons Bâtisseurs pursue a similar objective through their participative workshops, notably with the Fabrication Ti Ban initiative. These DIY workshops enable everyone to express their creativity by creating artistic and functional objects, which they can then take home with them. This approach encourages exchange, the transmission of knowledge and collaborative work, while promoting artistic expression as a tool for individual and collective emancipation and pride.
The impact of these initiatives goes beyond mere artistic production: they become symbols of local identity and urban resilience. Led by local artists such as Alpacman, these workshops offer participants-young and old-an introduction to a variety of artistic techniques, from painting to sculpture. In addition to being a learning space, they are a real lever for integration and social transformation, breathing life and dynamism into the neighborhoods concerned.
SIKOA from Action Logement: a committed partner
These initiatives would not be possible without the support of committed partners. SIKOA subsidiary of the action logement group
, for example, is financing the “Résidence Beauperthuis Pointe à Pitre” project, which aims to rehabilitate and secure the buildings in the district. This partnership is crucial, not only for restoring infrastructure, but also for encouraging creativity and involvement on the part of local residents.
By supporting projects such as the Compagnons Bâtisseurs and collaborations with artists such as Alpacman, SIKOA, a subsidiary of the action logement group, helps to create an environment conducive to the emergence of new talent. The financial resources allocated to these initiatives ensure that art is not just a privilege, but a right accessible to all.
Art: an investment in the future
The story of the painted street at the Beauperthius residence in Guadeloupe shows us that art can be much more than a simple embellishment. It can be a real lever for social, economic and cultural development. By investing in artistic training for young people, supporting local initiatives and encouraging civic participation, it is possible to bring about lasting change in priority neighborhoods and offer their residents a better future.
The impact of art on society is undeniable. Not only does it contribute to the beautification of public spaces, it also fosters social inclusion and personal development. Through art, young people learn discipline, patience and collaboration, values that are essential for their future.
L‘art is asserting itself as a driving force for social transformation. Thanks to initiatives such as those led by Alpacman, the Compagnons Bâtisseurs, and the support of Action Logement, priority neighborhoods are reinventing themselves. Far from being just a leisure activity, art becomes a vector for change, a tool for emancipation and a means of breathing new life into neglected spaces.
By investing in art, 0n lays the foundations for a promising future, where every inhabitant has the opportunity to contribute to the beauty and richness of his or her environment. This creative dynamic echoes a broader reality: art, when accessible to all, has the power to change lives and create stronger communities.
