The Cuban National Hero in 1886, said: "the mother of decorum, the sap of freedom, maintaining of the Republic and the remedy of its vices, is, above all, the spreading of culture". Our meeting today will be dedicated to the first cultural and sports events in San Antonio de los Baños after the revolutionary triumph.
In January, 1959, the Municipal Commission of Culture was created in San Antonio de los Baños. Orlando Hernandez was its President and Quidiello Rubén Suárez, José Rafael Lauzán, Martín Díaz García and Dr. Manuel Arnau were some of its members. Exhibitions, plays, dance activities, the election of the Carnival Star and the opening of the first Municipal Gallery of Plastic Arts, named ‘’Carlos Salazarte’’ were eloquent examples of their daily work.
‘’El Carnaval de la Libertad’’ was the first great popular festival. On June,1959, the House Theater ‘’Raymundo Valenzuela’’ was inaugurated in the place where the Center ‘’La Luz’’ was settled. In 1961 the Commission moved to the building of the old school ‘’LA Santa Infancia’’. There, the Cultural House ‘’Pablo de la Torriente Brau’’ and the Popular Workshop of Plastic Arts, leaded by Quidiello, Delarra and Escobedo were were settled.
As regards sport, which is also part of the culture, we must highlight the participation of the team ‘’El Círculo de Artesanos’’ in the championships of the Athletic Amateurs Union. The creation of the Sports Field ‘’El Paradero’’ in 1960 was the first step for the sport to become an ariguanabense people’s right.