Habanarte Festival Begins

All art forms at once

Fotorreportaje by Grisel Garcia Risco

HAVANA TIMES — From September 11-21 the Cuban capital is immersed in the first edition of “Habanarte ‘. Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, the all-encompassing event involves around a thousand Cuban artists of all demonstrations; including music, visual arts, literature, film, dance and theater.

With the slogan “All art at once”, this event aims to become the largest arts and cultural event that has been seen on the island. The main theaters, cinemas, galleries, museums, plazas, art schools and cultural centers of the city, are hosting the Festival.
The music lovers can enjoy a varied program that includes concerts, clubs, visits to recording studios and craft fairs and disc sales. The most diverse musical genres will be represented featuring the likes of Frank Fernandez, Omara Portuondo, Eliades Ochoa and Descemer Bueno, among many others.

Renowned artists will be exhibiting their works in galleries and museums. An interesting showing of naïve art and the second edition of the expo and sale of contemporary Cuban art Post-it, are some of the main proposals. Havana Open House II, allows participants to visit the different creative workshops, such as Estudios Kcho, Estudio 331 and La Lavanderia studio.

Important dance and theater companies in the country will delight the audience with their performances. These include the National Ballet of Cuba, the Litz Alfonso Company, Danza Contemporánea and the National Folklore Ensemble; and The El Público Theater, the Little Theater of Havana, Argos Theater and The Colmenita Children’s Theatre, will be among the guests.

As part of this festival book presentations, poetry gatherings, conferences and workshops will be conducted including storytelling workshops, while cinemas in the capital are planning a retrospective of the best of the Cuban films since 1959.

“Habanarte” will also promote an approach to national heritage through visits to museums including the Ernest Hemingway Museum and those of Fine Arts, Decorative Arts and Dance, while the University of the Arts (ISA) will open its doors to deliver engaging workshops on conservation and restoration, folk singing and percussion, Cuban jazz and salsa.

For 10 days Havana will become the center of a great celebration of Cuban arts and culture.
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See the program on the official festival page.

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