• Submitted by: admin
• Arts and Culture
• Granma
• 02 / 06 / 2007

"We have to continue defending our national identity", asserted Abel Prieto Jimenez, Cuban Minister of Culture and member of the Political Bureau at the Cuban Communist Party, during the opening ceremony of a modern Cultural Center at Cauto Cristo, a municipality located in Granma province.

The Cuban official also referred to the need of developing the creative talent of the amateurs, and he praised the performances of the groups integrated by housewives, workers, students and other representatives of the social groups that reside in this territory. Regarding the role of the Cultural Centers and the Arts Instructors in charge of training the amateurs, the Minister of Culture emphasized on the necessity to highlight and defend our national and regional identity, linking the artist and the audience with the best traditions and customs of the area where they live.

This center is part of a plan that consists in creating facilities of this kind in the 5 communities of the southeastern Cuban province. They have the most modern musical instruments, television and video equipments, specialized classrooms for the teaching of Plastics Arts, and literary workshops. Its 43 promoters, that have been added to the 18 students of "José Martí" Brigade coming from the School of Arts Instructors in Granma, reflect the successful results by a community culture in development.

The also political leader was accompanied by a group of remarkable intellectuals, among whom were Nancy Morejon, National Literature Award; Antón Arrufat, Jaime Saruski, Miguel Barnet, Reinaldo González, the National Theater Award Abelardo Estorino, the National Award on Social Sciences, Eduardo Torres Cuevas, and the National Award on Editing, Desiderio Navarro.

There were also present the National Community Culture Awards, Nisia Aguero Benitez -Vice-President of the Cultural Institutions National Council, and leading actor, Manuel Porto -Director of the prestigious theater group residing at Cienaga de Zapata, in Matanzas province. Other guests that attended this event were the 2006's Community Culture National Award, and several people living in Granma.

Source: Cubarte