The young artistic vanguard of Cienfuegos is once again turning to virtual spaces in view of the temporary closure of institutions and cultural centers in the Pearl of the South, due to the complex epidemiological situation the territory is going through with the outbreak of COVID-19.

Frank Armando Pérez Aguayo, president of the Saíz Brothers Association (AHS) in the province, informed about the decision to resume the promotional capsules, an initiative successfully developed last year during the first months of the pandemic.

"This was an essential tool to visualize the work of young creators in Cienfuegos, at different scales and at levels much higher than what we were used to. That is why we advocate keeping it now, to remain active and connected with our audiences through social networks and other platforms of the digital scenario," he said.

The intention is to continue recording the "capsules" in the course of 2021, as they constitute audiovisual materials of great value. Up today there are around 60 and work is underway to produce many more, dedicated to theatrical and dance groups.

Others," said Pérez Aguayo, "will involve honorary members of the organization, as well as local artists recognized with the Maestro de Juventudes(Youth teacher) distinction awarded by the AHS. They will also show the interweaving between the young artistic vanguard and more established exponents such as singer-songwriters Rosa Campo, Ariel Barreiros, and   Los Novo brothers".

Along with these actions, the association intends to add new creators of the different manifestations of art in the territory, in order to respond to the organic flow and constant renewal that it demands. In addition, it will take advantage of the potential of its gallery to carry out, virtually, collective and personal exhibitions.

Perez Aguayo highlighted the usefulness of the promotional capsules and the presence in social networks in the times of COVID-19. "It has allowed us to remain close to young artists and has made the AHS a more active, visible and connected organization with the different segments of the public; an advocate of art for all," he said.

Taken from 5 de septiembre digital

English version Hector Hdez.

A virtual March of the Torches, called by young people for January 27 under the hashtags #AntorchasMartianas #IdealesDeLuz #JuvenilMartiano, will light up the Internet from 9:00 p. m. to commemorate the 168th anniversary of the birth of José Martí.  

This traditional pilgrimage, led by students of all educational levels, from the steps of the University of Havana to the Martí Forge, was held for the first time at midnight on January 27, 1953, to await the centenary of the birth of the Apostle and as a firm response to the opprobrious situation in which the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista plunged the Cuban people.

As part of the tribute, on January 28 there will be a "tuitazo" with the light of his ideas. Between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., on that day, those who study and follow the ideas of the Apostle will share messages for the date invited by the Union of Young Communists (UJC) and other youth and cultural organizations that, together, have promoted this activity.

The Martiano Program Office will also play an important role in this day during which, in addition, transcendental moments of the Apostle's life will be remembered: it will be 130 years since the poet published the essay Our America and 140 years since his arrival in Venezuela. The planned activities also commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the Triumph of the Revolution and the 32nd anniversary of the founding of the Martiano Youth Movement and the Latin American Identity Day.

The Office... and the José Martí Cultural Society, both led by Dr. Eduardo Torres-Cuevas, together with the existing Martiano clubs on the island, have organized contests, colloquiums, workshops and a Martiana vigil to celebrate the date.

On January 28, the national event will take place and, as part of the actions to celebrate the anniversary, a conference by Torres-Cuevas, an online exhibition dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the project En todas partes soy, and a conference on Our America to be given at the Center for Martí Studies by Dr. Marlene Vázquez Pérez, a specialist in studies related to Martí's work, are planned.   

On the other hand, the Movimiento Juvenil Martiano(Martiano Youth Movement) -which in alliance with the UJC already held the Encuentro Internacional Virtual Virtual Martianos hoy por nuestra América- will now hold the virtual forodebate Ante la tempestad, siempre Martí (Before the storm, always Martí). It will take place on the 25th, from the blog Juvenil Martiano del Movimiento. They also invite you to participate on January 27 in the Virtual Youth Meeting With the bow oar.

The activities in homage to the National Hero have been taking place since January 20 and will last until January 30, reports Radio Reloj.
(Taken from Granma)

A new call to participate in the already well-known International Biennial of Graphic Humor has been announced by the Circle of Humorists and Comic Writers of the Union of Journalists of Cuba (Upec) and the Museum of Humor of San Antonio de los Baños, with the co-sponsorship of the provincial directorate of Culture of Artemisa. It is the 22nd International Biennial of Graphic Humor, which will take place between April 11 and 14 of this year.

Jorge Legañoa Alonso, vice president of Upec and head of the Organizing Committee, according to the Cubaperiodistas website, explained that this edition will be held under the slogan "Humor brings us closer", which in his opinion is a timely invitation - in times of coronavirus - for the world's graphic humorists to build bridges of solidarity and humanism, given the necessary distancing measures and the face mask on to avoid contagion.

According to the digital site, the Biennial offers the possibility of competing with a free theme to all the graphic humorists of the world. In addition, the competition and theoretical sessions, which are traditionally held in galleries, museums and exhibition centers, will continue to be held, this time, mostly in the virtual scenario due to the requirements imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As usual, informed the president of the Biennial's Organizing Committee, a Grand Prize and prizes will be awarded in General Humor, Political Satire, Humorous Cartoon, Personal Caricature, Humorous Photography, and the Tomy Prize for Political Humor on the theme of Sovereignty, with the aim of rewarding the best exponents of the counter-hegemonic, anti-imperialist and leftist graphic discourse, and several institutions will award collateral prizes.

The original works should be sent, preferably, in digital format, with the signature and data of the author, to the electronic address indicated in the official call for entries of the event, in which technical requirements are specified.

This year's digital call seeks to surpass the participation of the previous edition, when 1,330 works of more than 500 authors from 55 countries were submitted, which speaks of the strength of the exhibition and also shows the growing prestige of the event among the cartoonists of the world.

The jury, said Legañoa Alonso, will be chaired by Cuban visual artist and cartoonist Aristides Hernandez Guerrero (Ares), winner of the 2020 National Humorism Award, and made up of experts and outstanding artists in the profession from the United States, Iran, Venezuela and Cuba.

The official poster of the event -created by Dedeté humorist Carlos Alejandro Falcó Chang, FALCO- gathers all the conceptual elements of the contest which, as usual, will be a place for alternative graphic humorists of the world.

Finally, Cubaperiodistas informs that the 22nd Biennial will be dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the humorous publication P'alante, as well as to the six decades of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, the 90th anniversary of the outstanding creators Francisco Blanco Avila, Blanquito; and Virgilio Martinez, Virgilio; as well as the 110th anniversary of cartoonist Juan Eduardo David Posada, Juan David; and the 35th anniversary of the Pablo de la Torriente Brau Publishing House, which has played a leading role in the promotion of Cuban graphic humor.

(Taken from Granma Newspaper)

English version Hector Hdez.