Paris, 18 June 2025. On the afternoon of 17 June, during an exchange with representatives of the UNESCO Regional Office in Havana — led by Anne Lemaistre — and members of the Latin American and Caribbean diplomatic corps accredited to UNESCO, the Cuban Delegation reiterated the firm commitment of the Government and of Cuban cultural and educational institutions to the implementation and development of the Transcultura Programme, which has benefited the Caribbean Small Island States, including Cuba.
The Transcultura implementation team, attached to the UNESCO Regional Office in Havana, is visiting the Organization’s headquarters in Paris to present the main results, highlight its impact and advocate for its continuation as a source of training, development and exchange among Caribbean creators and artists.
As part of this visit, an exhibition showcasing the achievements of the programme was inaugurated in the UNESCO Ségur Hall. In addition, the “Transcultura” band — also a product of the programme — will participate in the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the 2005 Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. The team is also holding working meetings with various Delegations, including the one with the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC) on the afternoon of 17 June.
During the meeting, figures were presented that sparked great interest among the Latin American and Caribbean representatives, such as the creation of the first Caribbean Cultural Creation Hub, which has benefited around 2,700 professionals from 17 Small Island Developing States. This Hub constitutes the first network of educational centres of excellence designed to boost the cultural and artistic capacities of the region, based on previously identified training needs.
Laura Alvarez Delgado, Third Secretary of the Permanent Delegation of Cuba to UNESCO, expressed her gratitude for the sustained cooperation with the Regional Office in Havana and underscored the transformative impact of this project on the lives of Caribbean creators and artists.
The Cuban diplomat also highlighted the commitment of Cuban institutions such as the Ministry of Culture, the Office of the City Historian, the University of the Arts, the International School of Film and Television of San Antonio de los Baños, and the Design Institute, among others, whose expertise and support contributed to the programme’s success. She also recalled the vision of the renowned historian Eusebio Leal Spengler and the island’s heritage authorities, who long envisioned the Santa Clara College as an international centre for training in restoration and heritage safeguarding. On 29 April, the President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, personally attended the inauguration of the first phase of this College for Training in the Arts and Crafts of Restoration in Cuba and the Caribbean.
Participants recognized Cuba’s contribution as both a partner and beneficiary of the programme, and emphasized the facilitating role of the Cuban Government, while acknowledging the financial constraints faced by the island as a result of U.S. policies.
The programme “Transcultura: Integrating Cuba, the Caribbean and the European Union through Culture and Creativity” has been implemented since January 2020 and will conclude on 30 June 2025. Evaluators have highlighted its contribution to the professionalization of the creative and cultural sector, the strengthening of capacities, the creation of socio-economic development opportunities and the reinforcement of cultural cooperation. Transcultura has helped to strengthen the Caribbean’s cultural identity, empower young people and develop their skills, using cultural industries as a driving force for change.