It becomes clearer as the years pass by that Havana’s International Book Fair (Feb. 7-17) is instead a Vanity Fair. Published authors are the ones who write politically correct books and Cuban Writers and Artists’ Association (UNEAC) acclaims its prodigal sons, censoring other voices within the Island’s intellectual circle.
Cuban cultural policy is exclusive, it doesn’t include those who don’t jump through institutional hoops or stick within socialist conventions. Anyone who doesn’t hold a state license to exercise a profession, which is private in most cases, remains outside of this circle.
Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara is one of the most well-known activists involved in the campaign against Decree 349, which takes effect on December 7th, and we sat down with him to today to talk about efforts being made to save Cuban culture.