The APACC-M quarterly magazine continues its work to highlight Martinique’s Christian heritage. Its June 2026 issue, themed “Traces of the Sacred,” accompanies the Diocesan Festival of Sacred Art and invites readers to rediscover the places, artists, and memories that shape the island.
Since its first issue was published in December 2024, Transandans has established itself as a unique magazine in the cultural landscape of Martinique. Published by APACC-M, the Association for the Promotion of Christian Art and Culture in Martinique, this 36-page quarterly publication explores a field that remains largely overlooked: that of religious art, sacred heritage, and Christian culture in Martinique.
Under the editorial direction of Father Pierre Henderson, the journal offers an approach that is accessible, culturally rich, and well-researched. It is aimed at heritage enthusiasts, artists, artisans, researchers, and cultural institutions, as well as anyone who wishes to better understand the role of the sacred in the history, landscapes, churches, objects, songs, rituals, and traditions of Martinique.
A magazine to help us take a closer look at the world around us
The goal of Transandans is clear: to shed light on a heritage that is often right before our eyes, yet sometimes little known. Churches, chapels, stained-glass windows, organs, statues, liturgical objects, frescoes, hymns, folk traditions, religious architecture, and contemporary works: the magazine fosters a dialogue between history, art, faith, memory, and creativity.
Each issue thus opens the door to a rich world, where sacred art is not merely a matter of monuments or ancient artifacts. It is also a way of telling the story of Martinique—its heritage, its wounds, its forms of resistance, its popular expressions, and its creative potential.
The magazine also devotes significant space to artists and artisans. It offers them a platform for expression and recognition, highlighting how their works build upon, explore, or revitalize local Christian culture. Portraits, interviews, feature articles, heritage sections, workshops, art history, and games come together to form an open, educational, and vibrant editorial approach.
The June 2026 issue, “Traces of the Sacred”
Issue No. 7 of Transandans, dated June 2026, bears a striking title: “Traces of the Sacred.” Its cover sets the tone for this issue: “From natural landscapes to built environments, the sacred shapes our land and binds our society together.”.
This issue accompanies the 2026 Diocesan Sacred Art Festival, Held from June 20 to July 13 under the theme “L’Essentiel: Between Essence and the Sky,” this program features guided tours, concerts, lectures, exhibitions, storytelling, slam poetry, theater, and discovery tours in several towns across the island. Fort-de-France, Le Lamentin, Les Trois-Îlets, Saint-Pierre, Le Lorrain, Sainte-Marie, and the Nord-Caraïbe region are all part of this edition, which aims to make the festival accessible to as many people as possible.
In particular, the magazine highlights the highlights of this cultural and spiritual event: the tour exploring the religious heritage of the Northern Caribbean, the concerts by Roseline Cyrille, exhibitions devoted to Khokho René-Corail and artists inspired by the theme of “The Essential,” lectures on the sacred in Martinique and the West Indies, as well as the closing ceremony featuring youth choirs.
Orlane, Alexandre Audel, Art Deco, and the Murals of Dustan Saint Omer
Beyond the festival, this June issue features several in-depth articles. Singer Orlane shares her thoughts in an interview about her relationship with music, faith, and spirituality. Known for her career in zouk, the artist discusses a more intimate aspect of her work, rooted in love, inner peace, positivity, and openness to what transcends the individual.
The magazine also features a profile of Alexandre Audel, a potter based at the Village de la Poterie in Trois-Îlets. Throughout her journey, she showcases the full range of Martinican craftsmanship. Clay emerges as a medium for passing on traditions, preserving memory, and fostering creativity, but also as a personal and spiritual path.
Architectural heritage also plays an important role, with a focus on the Petite Anse Chapel, the presence of Art Deco in certain churches in Martinique, and the frescoes by Dustan Saint Omer. These topics serve as a reminder that religious buildings are not merely places of worship, but also living archives of the region’s artistic and social history.
An invitation to purchase the magazine at your local parish
With Transandans, APACC-M continues its invaluable work: documenting, explaining, preserving, and making accessible an essential part of Martinique’s collective memory. In a region where issues of identity, heritage, and transmission are at the heart of many debates, this journal offers an original, sensitive, and thought-provoking introduction to the island’s cultural history.
The June 2026 issue of Transandans is available for €4.50. It can be purchased at all parishes in Martinique. This is a wonderful opportunity to support a local publication run by a team of volunteers, while discovering the country’s artistic, spiritual, and cultural treasures in a new way.
Philippe Pied
