Renowned Cuban actor Luis Alberto García has openly criticized the cultural authorities, urging them to rejuvenate the once-vibrant El Sauce Cultural Center, which he claims is now in a deplorable state. "If 'culture is truly the first thing to be saved,' I challenge the Cuban Ministry of Culture and Artex to restore the El Sauce cultural complex and revive it to its former glory, when we had officials genuinely dedicated to fostering and promoting culture," García stated.
Accompanied by photographs illustrating the center's poor condition, García highlighted that "the stage has long lost its function, the lighting and sound are inadequate, and the dining options are often inaccessible to the public." He further remarked, "Regarding respect for artists, ensuring timely payments as it should be, it's better not to even mention it."
García, a prominent figure in Cuban cinema over the past decades, suggested prioritizing "fewer parades, fewer 'fabricated congresses,' fewer 'televised visits and cultural events of questionable quality,' and less rhetoric filled with statistics reminiscent of Hassán Pérez, in exchange for more tangible outcomes for the everyday people, who are regular patrons of this location." He also seized the opportunity to call for "less forceful measures," alluding to an incident where the Minister of Culture, Alpidio Alonso Grau, struck a young protestor during a peaceful demonstration outside the Ministry in Havana on January 27, 2021.
He concluded by stating, "Negligence often causes more harm than the 'cultural colonization' they are so preoccupied with. Not everything is Trump's fault."
In the comments section of his post, several online users agreed with García's sentiments; others expanded on the decline of cultural institutions, citing theaters like El Mella and iconic 90s venues like the El Comodoro nightclub that remain shuttered. Some commentators, while agreeing with García, noted that Cuba is a nation in decay, where even hospitals lack basic standards of decency.
"Luis Alberto is right, but when people are malnourished and pharmacies are empty, with medications trickling in only every two months, falling further behind each day, what can we demand? There are vital necessities for life that are unmet. Right now, the central-eastern provinces are suffering 20 to 22 hours a day without power. Why continue to list misfortunes?" questioned one woman.
Others added, "We're in dollarization, there's no time for that," and "Don't dream of things that won't be resolved. The entire country is in ruins," concluded two other commentators.
For many years, the El Sauce Cultural Center has been a prominent recreational space in Havana, located approximately a hundred meters from the Palacio de Convenciones and near hotels such as the Palco, Miramar, Quinta Avenida, and Comodoro. Over the years, this center has hosted live performances by well-known Cuban artists. Luis Alberto García himself, along with Frank Delgado, has spearheaded a Sunday project at the venue called "La máquina de la melancolía."
Insights into Cultural Challenges in Cuba
What prompted Luis Alberto García's criticism of Cuban cultural authorities?
Luis Alberto García criticized the Cuban cultural authorities due to the deteriorating state of the El Sauce Cultural Center and urged them to restore it to its former condition as a vibrant cultural venue.
How has the community responded to García's statements?
The community's response has been mixed, with some agreeing with García and expanding on the broader decline of cultural institutions in Cuba, while others cite the country's overall ruin, including issues like malnutrition and power outages.
What is the historical significance of El Sauce Cultural Center?
El Sauce Cultural Center has been a significant recreational site in Havana, known for hosting live performances by prominent Cuban artists and contributing to the cultural landscape of the city.