New York, October 21, 2025— On Tuesday evening, the Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations hosted a moving event to commemorate the “Day of the Cuban Culture”.
The celebration was attended by members of the Cuban Mission. Numerous members of American society also attended this significant event, mostly residents of New York City and nearby areas of New Jersey.
Ambassador Yuri A. Gala López, Cuba's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, welcomed the attendees and spoke about the importance of this patriotic commemoration, which invites reflection on the values, identity, and art that define the Cuban nation. He also reiterated that culture has served, and continues to serve, as an important bridge or link between the Cuban and the U.S. peoples, which we must preserve and strengthen.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Gala López recalled that Cuba celebrated the “Cuban Culture Week” from 10 to 20 October, with an extensive program of activities throughout the country. He noted that this year’s event was dedicated to the centenary of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, and the 95th anniversary of the Armando Hart Dávalos’ birth, two figures who played a key role in shaping the Cuban cultural thought.
He added that the centenaries of Alfredo Guevara, Juana Bacallao, Abelardo Estorino, and the Matamoros Trio are also being commemorated, along with the 95th birthdays of Alfredo Sosabravo and Omara Portuondo, and the 40th anniversary of the National Reading Campaign.
The Cuban diplomat mentioned that, with the slogan “Culture is the nation,” the event featured a diverse program in institutions, communities, and public spaces throughout the country, including: a film series dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the ICAIC’s Latin American Newsreel; concerts and artistic performances in institutions and public spaces; heritage routes; cultural fairs in communities and squares; and meetings with National Prize winners and prominent figures in the Cuban culture.
As part of the evening’s program at the headquarters of the Cuban Mission to the United Nations, attendees had the privilege of enjoying a special concert by multi-award-winning pianist, composer, and educator Arturo O'Farrill. Accompanied by dancer Isabella Vergara, his musical performance delighted everyone present, who appreciated the mastery and passion with which O'Farrill performed a selection of works that encapsulate the spirit of Cuban culture.
In addition, several audiovisual presentations allegorical to the occasion were shown, reflecting the patriotism and cultural, artistic, and other areas of the Caribbean nation. An exhibition of paintings by Cuban artist Yosvany Martínez Pérez was on display, whose works highlight his veneration for nature, architecture, and art.
Ambassador Gala López emphasized that this evening in New York was an opportunity to pay tribute to the identity of the Cuban nation and a moment to reaffirm Cuban culture as an active heritage committed to the present. He also recalled that through artistic creation, community action, and intergenerational dialogue, culture in the Revolution is projected as the space where the nation recognizes, reflects on, and renews itself, based on the conviction that “Cuba is Culture.”
Decree Law No. 70 of 1980 of the Council of Ministers of Cuba established October 20 as “Cuban Culture Day” in commemoration of October 20, 1968, the date on which the musical march that would become the Cuban National Anthem was sung for the first time. Written by lawyer Perucho Figueredo and originally named “La Bayamesa,” it is considered “a full-fledged song to the liberating insurrection and the abolition of slavery (...), as well as the highest and most genuine expression and symbol of our national culture.”
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations