It might seem odd to bring artists to a symposium that is focused on improving health care, education, and economic development. But to Studio Art Senior Lecturer [and Engineering Lecturer] Jack Wilson, it makes perfect sense.

“I have a firm belief,” says Wilson, “that arts are vital to cultural development.”

That’s why Wilson helped bring 11 Haitian artists to Dartmouth to participate in the Porter Symposium, entitled “Haiti and Dartmouth at the Crossroads.” The artists will meet with students, perform on campus, and contribute to symposium discussions.

Wilson received a faculty grant for his project, “Dartmouth/Haiti: An Arts Connection,” which brings the artists to campus. He is one of 17 recipients of the grants of up to $4,000 each. The grants are supported by the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost as part of Dartmouth’s Year of the Arts initiative.

The symposium, running February 20 through 22, will focus on developing tangible solutions to problems in Haiti and furthering Dartmouth’s work with the country, says Wilson, an architect and a lecturer at Thayer School of Engineering.

“The goal is to come out of the conference with feasible and detailed projects to help Haiti,” Wilson says. “Groups will be working to hammer out the details of proposals for the projects.”