The Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C. is set to host "Coastline and the Cross," a free symposium—both in-person and virtual—on August 21. This event will focus on the art and literature of the exiled Cuban Christian community and is organized by journalist and author Yoe Suárez to coincide with the United States' 250th anniversary of independence.
Announced by Suárez on social media, the gathering will feature five exiled Cuban writers and artists who will delve into the societal impact of restricted freedoms in Cuba, particularly focusing on religious liberty. The event will run from 1:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. EDT in the Scholars Initiative Conference Room, Level 5R of the museum.
Exploring the Challenges of Expression Under a Repressive Regime
"I am honored to collaborate with the Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C., during the 250th anniversary of the United States, to host this event featuring exiled Cuban authors," Suárez expressed in his announcement. "We will discuss the wounds inflicted by the Cuban regime, and the courage of those who dare to express, associate, believe, and create under socialist tyranny," he elaborated.
Among the speakers are Yaiset Matos, Oscander Rodríguez Frómeta, Yoaxis Marcheco, Mauricio Vega, and Suárez himself, each bringing a history marked by resistance and oppression in Cuba.
A Legacy of Resistance and Advocacy
Yoe Suárez (Havana, 1990), a journalist and documentary filmmaker, will present findings from his eight-year research encapsulated in "Hoz y Cruz," an 828-page work that won the Manuel Márquez Sterling Non-Fiction Literature Award in 2025 and was published in June 2026. Suárez faced interrogation and harassment by State Security and sought exile in 2022.
His research indicates that the Cuban evangelical community emerged as a significant force in civil society opposing Castro's policies between 2018 and 2022, gathering about 180,000 signatures against the regime's new Constitution—one of the largest independent initiatives in Cuba in six decades.
Yoaxis Marcheco (Mayarí, 1973), journalist and co-founder of the Patmos Institute for the defense of religious freedom, will address the struggle for survival within Cuban visual arts. Her talk starts with Fidel Castro's infamous phrase: "Within the revolution, everything; against the revolution, nothing," to explore how the regime sought to suppress any form of independent creativity and faith. Marcheco highlighted the arrest of a 16-year-old, son of an evangelical pastor, accused of sabotage following protests in Morón, Ciego de Ávila, in March 2026.
Building Communication Networks Amidst Censorship
Oscander Rodríguez Frómeta (Maisí, Guantánamo, 1978), a former CBN correspondent in Cuba from 2011 to 2018, will discuss how evangelical journalists developed communication networks—from DVDs to digital platforms—to document realities ignored by official media, providing "a window to the outside for a society long kept isolated."
Yaiset Matos, a journalism graduate from the University of Havana, will recount the 2017 evangelistic campaign "Power to Transform" in Havana, which was under surveillance and disrupted by State Security. Matos will explore how Decree 349 and Decree-Law 370 affect religious and creative life on the island.
Mauricio Vega (Havana, 1986), founder of the independent publication Supervivo and the art festival Festivo in Cuba, will conclude the symposium with reflections on young evangelical influencers using digital platforms to address social and political issues despite the risks involved.
Cuba's authoritarian regime has maintained a longstanding pattern of monitoring and repressing religious communities that do not conform to its directives. This has been consistently reported by believers both inside Cuba and abroad.
Attendance at the symposium is free but requires prior registration. Those interested can view the program and register on the Museum of the Bible's website, where virtual attendance is also available.
Understanding the Impact of Cuban Exile on Art and Literature
What is the purpose of the "Coastline and the Cross" symposium?
The symposium aims to highlight the art and literature of the exiled Cuban Christian community, focusing on the challenges of restricted freedoms and religious expression under the Cuban regime.
Who are the featured speakers at the event?
The event will feature Yoe Suárez, Yaiset Matos, Oscander Rodríguez Frómeta, Yoaxis Marcheco, and Mauricio Vega, all of whom have faced resistance and repression in Cuba.
How can interested individuals attend the symposium?
The symposium is free to attend but requires registration. Interested individuals can register for either in-person or virtual attendance through the Museum of the Bible's website.