Home AllCultureJosé Martí Cultural Society celebrates 30th anniversary

José Martí Cultural Society celebrates 30th anniversary

by Ed Newman

With three decades of work and dedication, the José Martí Cultural Society (SCJM) commemorated its anniversary this Monday (October 20) at the Memorial named after the Apostle of Independence in the capital’s Plaza de la Revolución.

The ceremony was attended by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez; Deputy Prime Minister Inés María Chapman Waugh; Minister of Culture Alpidio Alonso Grau; and Secretary of Organization of the PCC, Roberto Morales Ojeda, in addition to prestigious figures from the cultural and academic fields.

Víctor Hernández Torres, vice president of the SCJM, explained during the ceremony that the organization, founded in 1995 under the leadership of Armando Hart Dávalos (1930-2017) and Fidel Castro Ruz (1926-2016), plays an essential role in preserving and disseminating the thought and work of José Martí (1853-1895), promoting educational, artistic, and community activities that reaffirm his relevance to the Cuban national identity.

He also emphasized that among the initiatives carried out are conferences, literary workshops, exhibitions, and festivals that encourage reflection on the values ​​of José Martí; fundamental programs to counteract external influences and strengthen Cuban identity in a globalized context.

The center has managed to mobilize more than 20,000 members and collaborators, creating spaces for dialogue and learning in all the country’s provinces. This allows for a more aware public of its history and culture, while strengthening social cohesion, Hernández Torres emphasized.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Culture Lizette Martínez Luzardo emphasized that this celebration is dedicated to Fidel’s centenary, the 95th anniversary of Hart’s birth, the work of Eduardo Torres Cuevas (1942-2025)—a tireless promoter of the nation’s history and the thought of Martí—as well as to the Cuban Cultural Day.

Martínez Luzardo added that the organization celebrating its thirtieth anniversary was not conceived as an archive, but as a living and dynamic project of thought; it is a platform that allows each individual to recognize themselves in their history and participate in the construction of an increasingly inclusive country.

During the ceremony, the Félix Varela Commemorative Order of the First Degree was presented posthumously to Dr. Torres Cuevas—received by his widow, Patricia González Díaz—and to Dr. Rafael Polanco Brahojos, director of the SCJM.

The 30th Anniversary Commemorative Stamps were also awarded to the president of Casa de las Américas, Abel Prieto Jiménez; the essayist Enrique Ubieta Gómez; and the prominent cultural promoter, Graciela Rodríguez Pérez. Honors were also given to the provinces and municipalities that played an outstanding role in disseminating the Apostle’s thought: Guantánamo, Cienfuegos, and the special municipality of the Isle of Youth.

Above any tribute, the gathering at the José Martí Memorial reaffirmed the SCJM’s work in keeping alive the memory of one of Cuba’s greatest thinkers. Through its various initiatives, the institution ensures that Martí’s thought remains relevant in Cuban society and that its importance in building a conscious identity is recognized.

[ SOURCE: AGENCIA CUBANA DE NOTICIAS ]

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