Cuba promotes the arts! – In schools and local communities, and in national life. This 11-day program introduces you to Cuba’s celebration of the arts. You’ll meet with local artists; observe their techniques; and enjoy the chance to buy paintings, sculptures, and found art. You’ll learn from Cuban artist-mentors, attend emerging-art performances – and learn why this nation is so committed to creative expression!

Over 11 days – April 15-25, 2021 – we’ll spotlight the key role of the arts in Cuba.  In this Caribbean nation, so close to our shores, curriculum from elementary school onward mandates arts instruction. Youth, elders – and everyone in between! – appreciate the centrality of art to community and national life. The Ministry of Culture runs a highly acclaimed program of education in music, the visual arts, ballet, the dramatic arts, and modern dance, sending a powerful message of support for the arts and their value.

Nationwide, 200 neighborhood cultural centers offer workshops in all branches of the arts. This emphasis on the arts results in the rich legacy that Cuba has offered to the world over several decades – international-class dancers, painters, sculptors, classical musicians, and esteemed teachers of all art forms.

You will observe the benefits of this commitment. You will learn from professional artist-mentors, and you will attend emerging-art performances during your week in the country.  You’ll learn the history and the context for contemporary Cuba’s commitment to the arts, and you’ll return home with brand-new perspectives on why a nation prioritizes the arts and their value to the human experience!