They present in Havana Antology a book is a show

Havana, May 7.-The writer Leonardo Padura, Claudia Acevedo, editorial director of Aurelia Editions and Anne Lemaistre, UNESCO Regional Director in Cuba, presented the anthology A book is a showwhich brings together texts from young writers and editors benefited from the Fondo de Arte.

This volume is the result of a group of workshops aimed at strengthening the abilities of young people from 18 to 35 years in the cultural and creative industries of the region. Anthology includes stories, poetry and other literary genres signed by participants.

The initiative, organized by Aurelia Ediciones, under the coordination of Claudia Acevedo, had the support of the Ven-tú cultural space and the Cairoestudio study-workshop, by Cuban photographer Carlos Torres Cairo.

Padura, Princess of Asturias Award 2015, taught in April 2023 the course “How to write a novel” to a group of young writers and editors, within the framework of the Transculture Program, financed by the European Union and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (Cosude).

Multidisciplinary workshops

The director of Aurelia Editions and creator of the program A book is a show He stressed that the workshops not only addressed creative writing, but also the new practices in editorial production and fundamental aspects of that process such as: correction, design, sales management, copyright, self -publication and new technologies.

Acevedo explained that this fact responds to a need to oxygenate the Cuban editorial landscape and bring literary traditions to exponents that are not mostly professionals in the environment.

Classes contributed an integral vision of literary creation and cultural industry, promoting self -management and knowledge of the rights of creators. This training included master conferences of experts in script, cinema, editorial design, typography, narrative journalism and poetic improvisation.

In addition to Padura, who shared not only literary techniques, but also his life and professional experience, were part of the cloister of recognized figures of the literary panorama such as: Arturo Arango, Gustavo Arcos, Pepe Menéndez, Arnulfo Espinosa, Rafael Grillo, as well as the members of the Oralitura Habana project.

The value of a printed book

For many of the workshops this was the first time they saw their printed texts, a fact that, in Padura’s opinion, constitutes a moment of great sentimental and professional value.

The renowned author recalled his own experience by publishing his first story in a brochure in Santiago de Cuba, the result of a narrative encounter organized by José Soler Puig and the Santiago subsidiary of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, in the eastern region of the island.

Therefore, Padura accentuated the importance of this initiation for any novel writer. He stressed that the physical book remains the most important space in terms of prestige and duration, against the volatility of social networks.

The writer emphasized the necessary discipline to write literary texts and clarified that this year he will publish his novel number 15 entitled Sandwhich addresses the harsh reality of old age in Cuba and social precariousness after decades of work.

In addition, he expressed his intention to replicate these workshops on the island of Youth, in collaboration with Jorge Perugorría, in the context of the Isla Verde Festival, to address the great “thirst for beauty” that he perceives in the young writers of that western territory.

Promoting cultural and creative industries

Anne Lemaistre, director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Cuba, stressed that the Transcultura program has benefited more than 2,700 young people from various Caribbean islands and Latin America. He also emphasized that he has contributed to the creation of professional networks and training opportunities, artistic residences and mentoring.

The UNESCO official emphasized the collaboration with Cuban institutions to offer high quality training set the example of the newly opened Santa Clara College for the arts and crafts of the restoration, which will be added to the Caribbean Pole of Cultural Training.

The Transculture and Anthology program A book is a show They show a sustained commitment to the promotion of literary culture in the Caribbean, supporting a new generation of writers and editors who seek to live from their work and be respected for their work. (2025)