Art Joins the Celebration for Santiago de Cuba’s 500th Birthday

The City Curator’s Office (OCC is the Spanish acronym) in Santiago de Cuba is implementing a new economic management policy, so self-employed workers can join the construction and socio-economic development process that is presently going on to celebrated the 500th anniversary of the city.

Click on Santiago de Cuba: A City of 500 Years

During an interview, MSc. Arch. Omar López Rodríguez, director of the OCC, pointed out that this is a pilot and experimental plan, with a six-month length, and if the results are positive it might be applied in other areas of the city and the country, in an effort to support the heritage development of Cuban cities.

The idea will initially include 10 projects, which are going to be technically and materially advised by specialists from the OCC, and the remodeling of Louvre –one of the properties nestled in Enramadas Heritage Pedestrian Corridor– stands out as it is going to be turned into a cafeteria-hostel complex.

Arte Clip is also going to be a new elements at the Enramadas Street, which will gather a group of photography professionals to offer their services to the people, ranging from pictures to the search and preservation of photographic material related to the architectural, historical and cultural development of this south eastern province.

The OCC also fosters the insertion of self-employed workers in such initiatives as the Swings Park, Tentempié Cafeteria, malthouse, San José warehouses, where self-employed sellers and companies are going to be marketing articles of clothing, gold and silver articles and other products; as well as Espíritu Santo premise, which will be sponsored by self-employed workers from Sancti Spíritus province, targeting pieces of ornament and plants.

This new method is being applied in Camagüey and Havana, with positive results in terms of the preservation of architectural assets in heritage cities, and it presently represents a new opportunity to make the most of spaces that were abandoned in the city, as it promotes the ideas and participation of workers from the private sector.