Fidel Castro's relationship with the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC) was, from its origins, a profound and defining bond that shaped the course of Cuban cultural policy from the dawn of the Revolution.
The background must be sought in the famous Words to the Intellectuals, delivered by Fidel in June 1961 at the José Martí National Library in Havana, following intense exchanges with Cuban creators and thinkers.
In that speech, he established principles that would become pillars for this organization: a call for creation committed to society and the defense of culture as a popular heritage.
Fidel did not conceive of culture as a secondary luxury but as an essential component of identity and national emancipation, which led him to maintain ongoing contact with UNEAC during its main meetings and congresses.
His presence at these gatherings was not merely ceremonial: he participated in debates, listened to proposals, and championed the idea that creators should have an active role in building the Revolution and its cultural policy, recognizing both the aesthetic value of their contributions and their social dimension.
UNEAC continues to be a space for convergence and reflection, faithful to the foundational principles that established the exchange between the revolutionary State and intellectuals as an essential pathway for the cultural development of the nation.
This constant dialogue, cemented by Fidel, is also reflected in the institutional memory of the organization, where his figure has been a point of reference in debates, academic panels, and reflective meetings on nationality and critical thought.
The imprint of the Commander in Chief goes beyond a symbolic gesture: it is inscribed in UNEAC’s very mission to promote artistic creation in all its forms, linking aesthetic diversity with the construction of a sovereign cultural identity.
His words on the democratization of culture and the need for it to reach every corner of the country continue to be cited and analyzed in workshops, congresses, and publications driven by the organization.
To honor this essential relationship between Fidel Castro and UNEAC, this year UNEAC dedicates its program Arte Fiel, an initiative that will highlight milestones of this historic bond through concerts, book presentations, panels, and exhibitions across the country.
This is not only to remember Fidel’s imprint on Cuban cultural policy and UNEAC’s life but also to reaffirm the spirit of dialogue, creativity, and commitment that he promoted, reaffirming that the alliance between artistic creation and social project are vital axes for the nation’s cultural identity.
