A CULTURE OF ARTS
IN CUBA
January 7-14, 2017
Community Travel Program
Saturday, January 7
Fly to Cuba
Thursday, January 12
Travel from San Francisco via Los Angeles and then a direct flight to Havana.
Welcome to Cuba. Check into Hotel Nacional with a welcome cocktail in the
historic bar. Welcome Dinner at Paladar 17.
Enjoy a brief tour around Cuba's National Arts School, followed by a meeting
with ARTEX to learn about the promotion of Cuban music around the globe.
After lunch, enjoy a special opportunity to meet with the film maker, Gloria
Rolando, who will share her experience as an artist and discuss Race and Gender
in Cuban Film. Questions welcome about film genres and national identity in
Cuba. Time permitting, a brief meeting with UNEAC, the Cuban Union of Writers
and Artists to learn about the promotion of Cuban arts and literature. Free time
in the evening to enjoy dinner on your own and to explore the city.
Sunday, January 8
Orientation to Cuba
Orientation meeting followed by a briefing by Miguel Coyula, a leading architect
in Cuba on the History and Development of the Capital. Visit a community arts
project called the El Muraleando. Learn how a culture of arts has rejuvenated a
community. Lunch at El Aljbe Restaurant. A private visit with Cuban musicians to
discuss Music and Life in Cuba. Learn how musicians are trained and what life is
like to live as a professional musician. Enjoy a private concert from 4pm - 6pm
with Haydee Soul. A group reservation is made during all the evenings as an
option for the group to dine together. Free evening to explore Havana’s
nightlife and music, like the Palacio de la Rumba.
Monday, January 9
Excursion to Las Terrazas
Enjoy a day excursion to the Rosario Mountains bio-reserve, Las Terrazas
ecological community and environmental education center. Meet with officials,
community and student volunteers working in the reserve. Experience local
artists and learn about the community’s unique architecture along with a school
visit and a local clinic to meet with doctors. A terrific opportunity to interact
with the local community followed by lunch at the Casa del Campesino (with
Los Polos) before heading back to La Habana.
Promotion of the Arts | Cuban Filmmaking
Friday, January 13
Free Morning | Music & Creative Writing
Enjoy free time in the morning to visit artist galleries, walk around the
Malecon, or to rest out on the patio of the Hotel Nacional. Later enjoy a
dynamic community arts exchange that incorporates music and creative
writing with the intergenerational community. Visit to the Artists Fair to see
local artists sell their sculptures, products and paintings. After lunch enjoy a
private performance with the jazz pianist Alexis Bosch, Cuban Jazz Project from
3pm - 5pm. Wrap-up Meeting at 7pm and enjoy a farewell group dinner at El
Divino
Saturday, January 14
Depart for home
Hasta luego Havana. Travel from Havana via Los Angeles (direct flight) and then
to San Francisco.
Tuesday, January 10
Understanding Cuba's African Roots
Meet Afro-Cuban artist, Francisco Gordillo, inspired by Afro-Cuban religion in
Cuba. Visit the Casa de Africa and enjoy our city tour of other sites in Havana.
Lunch in Old Havana at one of Hemingway’s old dives, the Bodeguita del Medio.
In the afternoon, enjoy “Brujo Tour” to see how Afro-Cuban identity and
religion is expressed in the popular culture, art and music as we visit the
community arts project of the artist Salvador at the Callejon de Hamel. Free
evening to explore and dinner on your own. "La Zorra y El Cuervo,” a local Jazz
club, is recommended and is a short walk from your hotel.
Wednesday, January 11
Arts Education in Cuba | Cigar Factory Tour
Visit to Prodanza - one of Cuba's most important ballet schools - to learn about
education in the arts through the window of dance. Donations of shoes and
leotards are appreciated here. Next, learn about the time-intensive labor behind
another of Cuba’s favorite exports, the Cigar, as we tour a Cigar Factory in
Havana. After lunch in Old Havana, visit a community arts project and Graffic
Artists Workshop. Mingle with the local artists. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided
tour of the Bellas Artes Musuem to learn about important contemporary artists,
followed by a private concert organized by a young jazz fusion quartet. Optional
cultural activity in the evening to explore the vibrant Fabrica de Arte.
This trip is an OFAC licensed People to People tour powered by Altruvistas.
The cost of this journey is $4400 and includes:
-$500 tax-deductible donation to the San Mateo County Community Colleges Foundation's Study
Abroad Scholarship Fund
- Double room accommodations at a 5-star hotel, the Hotel Nacional,
- All program activities as on the itinerary
-Transportation to and from activities, international airfare to and from San Francisco -Los Angeles
- Havana
- Two meals daily
- A qualified trip leader and translator, honoraria to speakers, donations to NGOS.
Not included: One meal a day, extra beverages, individual tips (to hotel staff, driver and Cuban
Guide) personal expenses, optional evening activities and round trip national airfare to Miami) .
Single rooms are available for an additional $500.
Contact Information
SMCCCD Community Travel Program | Web: www.smccd.edu/communitytravel
Email: [email protected] | Phone: (650) 738-7098