Brussels, 26 June 2025. The President of the Cuban Institute of Music, Indira Fajardo, took part in Brussels in the commemorative event marking five years of implementation of the Transcultura Programme, an initiative led by UNESCO with the support of the European Union to strengthen cultural ties between Cuba, the Caribbean and Europe.
In her address, Fajardo highlighted Cuba’s vision of culture as a driver of development and cooperation, recalling the words of José Martí: “Culture saves us”. She noted that, from the outset, Cuba took an active role in the Programme through the Ministry of Culture and the Office of the Historian of Havana, prioritising capacity building for young artists and entrepreneurs, supporting their professional development, and restoring the Convent of Santa Clara as a cultural space.
Among the achievements in the country, she mentioned that 807 young Cubans aged 18 to 35, 56% of whom were women, benefited directly from training and cultural cooperation activities. In addition, more than 290 young people took part in joint initiatives with other Caribbean countries, seven educational institutions became involved in the Programme, and 68 scholarships were awarded to strengthen skills in cultural and creative industries and entrepreneurship.
Fajardo also underlined the significance of the Caribbean Cultural Training Hub, led by Cuba’s University of the Arts, and celebrated the creation of the Transcultura Band, made up of young musicians trained through the Programme and directed by renowned pianist and composer Roberto Fonseca, Artistic Director of the International Jazz Plaza Festival.
Showcasing Caribbean creative talent and the spirit of collaboration inspired by the Programme, the event featured a joint performance by Cuban tres player and singer Yarima Blanco, Haitian singer Maria Francia Sterlin and Trinidadian violinist David Webber, who presented a repertoire in Spanish, French and Creole that blended traditions from their respective countries.
As part of the UNESCO–EU partnership, the Transcultura Programme: Integrating Cuba, the Caribbean and the European Union through Culture and Creativity, implemented by UNESCO and funded by the European Union, will conclude in June 2025 after five years of implementation. Over this period, more than 2,700 young artists, creators and culture professionals from 17 Caribbean countries have taken part in its activities, improving their skills and accessing new career opportunities in the cultural and creative industries through courses, incubators, accelerators, mentorships, mobility grants, participation in festivals and access to markets.