In the latest push to deepen cultural exchange with Cuba, a group of artists and musicians flew to the island last week supporting the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
The Cuba delegation included Dave Matthews, Usher, Smokey Robinson, Alfre Woodard and violinist Joshua Bell, along with a pair of executives from American Airlines, Fern Fernandez and Donna Estacio.
American flew special charter flights to and from Cuba for the visit.
During what was a four-day trip, the delegation met and performed with students and artists at Cuba’s El Instituto Superior de Arte, Cuba’s national art school, along with visits to Cuba’s Museum of Fine Arts; the Cuban Institute of Music and the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry.
Usher and Matthews’ group also traveled to the Finca Vigia, Hemingway’s house in Cuba, among other stops.
It was the latest in a series of visits to Cuba for Usher, who famously visited Cuba last September with fellow music superstar Ludacris.
“American has been flying to Cuba for the last 25 years, and our commitment to the Caribbean and to Cuba is one that we long cherish,” Fernandez said. “As part of the official delegation, we brought a cross section of artists, screenwriters and business people to engage with their Cuban counterparts although separated by only 90 miles this was the first time this type of exchange has happened in over 60 years and we’re proud to have been part of this historic trip,”
