Guantanamo.- As part of the Cuban Culture Week, the “Humberto Sócrate Villón” Center for Cultural Advancement in Guantánamo held its fourth Scientific Conference on Heritage, Identity and Cultural Processes.
The event took place on October 12 and 13 at the América Café Cantante and stood out as one of the main activities marking the institution’s four decades of work in the training and professional development of cultural workers.
The conference provided a space for dialogue, reflection and the presentation of research results generated throughout the year by the province’s cultural sector. PhD. Gisely Isalguer-Reyes, professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Guantánamo, emphasized the importance of strengthening the event and expanding its reach beyond the provincial level.
She described the conference as the culmination of a year of scientific work carried out by the cultural sector, particularly by the Center for Cultural Advancement.
During the second day, two working commissions met. One of them addressed the theme “Heritage and Safeguarding, Plural Identities, Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue.” Three studies were presented, including one through an online format. The research focused on various expressions of Guantánamo’s intangible cultural heritage, highlighting processes, personalities and traditions that contribute to the collective memory of the province.
Among the most notable presentations was a study on the Seven Wonders of Guantánamo, recognized by architecture specialists for their historical, cultural and constructive values. Attention was also drawn to research on the lesser-known work of painter, promoter and teacher Gonzalo Escalante, a figure closely linked to Guantánamo whose artistic legacy deserves greater recognition and visibility within the province’s cultural heritage.
The conference also stressed the need to expand the dissemination of these investigations through scientific articles, digital platforms, social networks and other communication channels. Participants called for stronger cooperation among cultural institutions, communities and young creators, including members of the Hermanos Saíz Association.
They also proposed presenting community projects to the annual Community Culture Award and establishing links with the “Cieric” Community Initiative Reference Center. In this way, the “Humberto Sócrate Villón” Center reaffirms, after four decades of work, its commitment to placing science at the service of Guantánamo’s culture, heritage and identity.
