The cultural expeditions coordinated by the Ministry of Culture (Mincult) and different institutions in the country have a significant impact on the social development of Cuban neighbourhoods.
Chanel Martell Ibarra, director of communications at Mincult, told the Cuban News Agency exclusively that these events bring with them novel and attractive options for different age groups, and include a variety of literary proposals, presentations by art students, poetry readings, audiovisual screenings, dances and concerts.
For children there are recreational activities, with clowns, children’s groups such as La Colmenita, and the «Museum in the Neighbourhood» space, an initiative of the National Council for Cultural Heritage that allows the exhibition of works of art to the youngest members of the family, he pointed out.
Events of this kind encourage exchange between writers and artists and the public, which always generates motivation in the participants, he said.
Martell Ibarra explained that these events last approximately 12 hours and each one is different from the previous one in terms of particularities and direct expressions.
The last cultural expedition took place on 24 August in the community of Vista Alegre in the municipality of 10 de Octubre, and included the presentation of the book «La Edad de Oro», by José Martí, and a poetry recital with readings dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the birth of Nancy Morejón, winner of the National Literature Prize (2001), he argued.
He stressed that since its beginnings in the municipality of Cerro about a year ago, the expeditions have travelled through different communities, including those belonging to Playa, Guanabacoa, La Habana Vieja, Centro Habana, even reaching the province of Mayabeque on one occasion.
These cultural actions are not only carried out in Havana, but also throughout the country as part of the Mincult’s mission in neighbourhoods in transformation, emphasised the ministry’s director of communication.
The Guantánamo-Baracoa Theatrical Crusade, the Mountain Book Fair, and other events organised jointly with the Hermanos Saíz Association, the System of Cultural Houses, the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, and the José Martí Brigade of Art Instructors are examples of this noble work.
