X Alfonso to Open Cuban Art Factory in Havana

Musician X Alfonso prepares the brand-new installation that will be showcased by Cuban Art Factory (Fábrica de Arte Cubano) project, to be inaugurated on February 6 in Havana.

Created in 2010, the project was based in Pabexpo fairground, but an old oil factory in Vedado is going to be its venue this time around – a property given by the Ministry of Fishing to the Ministry of Culture – and it will only house the project managed by the Institute of Music, Alfonso commented during interview for Progreso Semanal.

Targeting the confluence of several artistic genres, the center will feature one screening hall that will also host small musical formats, literary presentations, performances, lectures and plays. Also in the building: one library and exhibition space, and in the higher floor, a dance, theater and movie are, a terrace for concerts and one digital art hall.

Likewise, there is going to be a local Wi-Fi zone, "an intranet with a database on Cuban artists", Alfonso explained. 

The project called Cuban fine artists, linked to any expression, to send their works through January 17 (11^th street, 61, 26 corner, Vedado), in order to handpick the ones to make up future displays in the center.

The institution is looking forward to holding collective exhibitions once every month, "where you can either find one of Fabelo’s or a 18-year-old boy’s, who is also good", the musician pointed out and asserted that there will be a selection process, a "quality control".

"What is going to be showcased here is first analyzed by a group of people representing different expressions and sort of voting is carried out, the works are never put aside, it’s not like I didn’t like it and that’s it. Actually the artwork touches you or not, it’s that simple, it’s all about exhibiting works that reach out viewers and that’s the reason why we need that quality control, anything could be displayed otherwise", he said.

Alfonso announced that "a sort of manual is going to be created to put in black and white how this Art Factory is being made, in an effort to clone the seed" on the island’s central and eastern regions. 

"God willing and if everything is ok, it would be great to have one per province, wouldn’t it be? And after that, we’d go overseas", he said and affirmed that they will also count on space for Cuban artists that live abroad.

The center, located in 26^th avenue, between 11^th and 13^th, Vedado, is set to open from Thursdays to Sundays, 6:00 pm - 6:00 am, and the entrance ticket costs fifty pesos (national currency).

After the opening, the Factory will be collaborating with Havana World Music Festival, to be held in Havana on February 7 and 8, coordinated by singer Eme Alfonso and sponsored by the Norway’s embassy, among other institutions. 

"We are looking forward to having a six-month program. So, in January you already know that so-and-so is going to be there in June and you buy the tickets", the musician explained.

Silvio Rodriguez is set to give a concert on February 14^th. The center has also scheduled performances by Pedro Luis Ferrer, Santiago Feliu and Carlos Varela.

"The Cuba that is being made is supposed to change in order to improve everything and this is a way to support Cuban culture, especially young people. Since I count on the full support of the Ministry of Culture, the Institute of Music… Just think about this: the Cuban Institute of Music is helping me with a project that not only entails music. That’s great news", he explained.

According to Alfonso, the project is also aimed at putting artists together "because they are very individual (…), and this is a way to have people united, to meet each other, speak, get into new things", he said.

Source: DDC