With the triumph of the Revolution on January 1, 1959, Cuban society experienced great changes in all its structures. The National Council of Culture was established in 1961, as the first independent governmental institution for the development of the country's cultural policy.
At that time, emblematic cultural institutions for the country's culture emerged, such as the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC), founded just 83 days after the triumph of the Cuban Revolution. This fact evidenced the new government's concern for artistic culture. Casa de las Américas was born in April 1959 to develop and expand socio-cultural relations with the sister nations of America.
An extensive process of democratization of culture took place and relevant moments were highlighted since 1961 with the Literacy Campaign, which instructed almost one million people; also with the creation of the National Press, which published works of the great masters of universal literature, beginning with 100,000 copies of The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes y Saavedra, the first Cuban edition of this title.
The National School of Art was inaugurated in 1962, giving rise to the extraordinary expansion of artistic education, as one of the most beautiful works of the Cuban Revolution. Another important institution created in 1967 was the Cuban Book Institute, responsible for the development and promotion of books and literature.
These elements constitute the antecedents of the emergence of the Ministry of Culture, which was created as part of the process of institutionalization of the bodies of the Central Administration of the Cuban State, which occurred in 1976.
Created by the Revolution, the National Council of Houses of Culture (CNCC) celebrates its 40th anniversary today. The institution has played an important role in meeting the cultural and social needs of the population in the country's communities.
To celebrate the anniversary, the Council has prepared a program that includes multiple methodological preparation actions such as workshops, seminars and exchanges of experiences; visits to schools, houses of culture and communities; celebration of events, contests of plastic arts, music, dance and literature, among other proposals, throughout the year 2018.
