The Writers and Artists' Guild (UNEAC)--a vocal advocate for Cuba's creative spirit

Don with our guide and 2 members of UNEAC, the writers and artists' guild

While Cuba is a very poor country (more on its economy and daily life in another blog), it has an incredible creative spirit, with artists, dance companies, musicians and writers occupying a central and vibrant part of everyday life.

artists' street in Havana

using old bathtubs as art

artist making paper in Holguin

We had a lively meeting with the Vice President of UNEAC, the national writers and artists’ guild, in Holguin, a professor of economics at the University of Holguin, and the head of the international department of the University.

For many years after the Revolution, writers, artists, filmmakers and musicians were heavily censored by the government who wanted Soviet-style “socialist realism” to rule artistic expression of all kinds.  UNEAC was formed to counter this censorship by constantly negotiating with government officials to open up greater freedom of expression.  They told us they have had considerable success over the years, though they still must be careful about offending government sensibilities.  UNEAC also holds workshops, concerts, art shows and public events by and for its members.  There are 10 branches in cities around the country.

The economics professor teaches microeconomics at the University of Holguin.  He received his PhD in economics from the University of Camaguey, a city to the west of Holguin.  He said his focus is on development economics, studying how all levels of government work to develop the Cuban economy.  We asked him if he recommended       new policies to the government through his           research and writing and he responded that he       did, though it may not have much influence. 

He also manages international exchange programs for the University, trying to set up agreements with foreign universities all over the world for student and professor exchanges.  The former are much easier to arrange than the latter, particularly if the University can find donated scholarship money for exchange students.  They rely heavily on donations from foreign foundations to sustain their programs.

One person we met later told us he had lost his job as a professor because the University rector refused to let him go to Canada for a conference.  When he went anyway, he was fired.  He spent 2 years in Canada, which he said were the best 2 years of his life.  He returned to Cuba because he loves his country and wanted to help it develop.  For another 2 years, he could not find a job.  Now, he writes and speaks about whatever he believes and thinks the country should do.