By Jess Sarmiento, NEA Public Affairs Director A month after the historic visit by President Obama, the first ever U.S. government cultural mission to Cuba arrived in Havana. I was fortunate to be a part of the delegation along with our NEA chairman, Jane Chu. From the Cuban people we met, to the government officials … Read more
Concrete Beach Brewery will brew Cuba’s first and most-iconic beer, Cerveza La Tropical, La Original, and release it on May 22nd at a special launch party in their Social Hall in Wynwood. Re-created by the Concrete Beach brewing team using the founding family’s original recipe from 1888, Cerveza La Tropical is a Vienna-style lager, which … Read more
Presidente beer today announced an official partnership with Gente de Zona, the most popular Cuban music duo in the world. The official partnership will have a dedicated focus on Hispanic consumers primarily residing in the eastern United States. The musical duo, famous for its raggaeton sound, found its first international success following their collaboration with Enrique … Read more
According to a report in the Washington Blade, the daughter of Cuban President Raúl Castro on Tuesday spoke about her organization’s plans to commemorate the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Mariela Castro, director of Cuba’s National Center for Sexual Education, told reporters and her supporters in Havana that her organization, which is known by … Read more
Chanel stirs excitement and unease in old Havana today as it stages its first Latin American fashion show in Cuba. Karl Lagerfeld, head designer and creative director for the fashion house, says, “The spirit of these collections is to conjure up images of distant horizons. They are inspired by a theme or identity that is often … Read more
Karl Lagerfeld is in Havana this month to present his 2017 resort collection for Chanel, but before the runway event takes place, the designer will also debut an exhibition of his photography in the historic city. A photography exhibition, “Obra en Proceso/Work in Progress”, opened last week in Havana at Factoria Habana, less than a week … Read more
On April 21, three US federal agencies and the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities announced a number of agreements that create arts and cultural collaborations between US and Cuban scholars, artists, public agencies, and institutions. These agreements will, in the words of First Lady Michelle Obama, “highlight the commonalities that unite all … Read more
Hemingway’s home in Cuba was the topic of discussion on the floor of the US House of Representatives yesterday. Congressman Jim McGovern, a senior House Democrat and leading voice in the push for normalizing U.S.-Cuba relations, spoke in honor of the Finca Vigia Foundation, based in Massachusetts. The foundation is the result of a multi-year … Read more
The DC Film Festival this month featured the premiere of Ron Chapman’s “The Forbidden Shore”. Director Ron Chapman and his documentary capture five decades of Cuban cultural, artistic, and political stories through music. More than 40 concerts and interviews are featured throughout the film. Forbidden Shore Trailer from CHAPMAN PRODUCTIONS on Vimeo. Award-winning filmmaker, Ron … Read more
One key theme in President Obama’s is to increase opportunity for Americans and improve the lives of the Cuban people, including opening the door to increased travel and commerce between the two countries. Educational exchange is a major part of this focus, and Obama has funded and organized partnerships to promote an academic and entrepreneurial … Read more
