Cuban artists María del Carmen Barcia, René Francisco, Senel Paz, and Silvio Rodríguez met today at a series of events at the Manuel Galich and Che Guevara Rooms to celebrate the 52nd anniversary of the famed cultural institution, Casa de las Américas.

In a panel held to present the book Casa de las Americas 1959-2009, the artists spoke about their relationship with the cultural institution, which was founded by Haydée Santamaría in 1959 and is currently presided over by Roberto Fernández Retamar. Casa de las Americas 1959-2009 chronologically covers the most important moments of the history of the institution. A digital version of the book was shown while the artists spoke.

Other activities included the presentation of number 262 of the journal Casa. The journal features texts by Nestor Kohan, Margaret Randall, Pablo Armando Fernández, and Nancy Morejón. The issue also includes a section devoted to Guadeloupean author Maryse Condé with her recent keynote speech and essays by Fabienne Viala, Yolanda Wood, and Alberto Abreu Arcia on various aspects of the Caribbean writer’s creative process.

For full articles, see http://www.juventudrebelde.co.cu/culture/2011-04-27/casa-de-las-americas-to-celebrate-its-52-anniversary/ (in English) and http://laventana.casa.cult.cu/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=6128 (in Spanish)