On the eve of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution(CDR) Day, many artists and writers evoke community cultural work which has been successfully developed and in the territory. San Antonio de los Baños, always distinguished by its enormous artistic potential, has had creators and institutions decided to live in the depths of society. Today, more than twenty projects are carried out in our town in various manifestations.
The artistic vanguard has articulated its work with the community, recognizing the importance of popular culture, traditions and identity in each site. They are the product of those traditions and cultural processes. With its work, they enrich and extend to new generations these processes to be continually renewed.
For example, Rodolfo Chacón, Tenor of the National Opera of Cuba, has come from the best traditions of opera singing in San Antonio de los Baños. He founded an academy and a singing program ‘’La Dulce Quimera’’ whose fruits are exhibited monthly at the Art Gallery and different educational, social and cultural centers.
Raúl Hernández Montanarro has also exceeded the scene to convert various expressions of music, poetry and Cuban theater into energy. Promoter, par excellence, Raulito, as everyone knows, is essential to the life of San Antonio de los Baños.
The theater group ‘’Los Cuenteros’’ have ventured into neighborhoods, villages, camps and intricate sites. Félix Santos Pérez, ‘’Dardo’’, strengthened the human condition of creators and audiences. Community cultural work is a path with two directions: transforms the life of the town and exalts the vocation of the artist.
The greatest difficulty is the lack of support, the fragmentation of interests, material shortages, poor dissemination of successful experiences and the separation of links between government structures and community. Some projects are superficial and there is a cold and bureaucratic relationship with the people.
Regarding cultural work in communities, the secret is to say "we" and not "I". It is a dialogue in all directions to improve the life quality through culture.As Martí said, ‘’It is a necessity and a duty, it is the dignity and greatness.