For the third time, Havana will host, from Thursday, October 9 through the 19, the British Culture Week, though they will actually display for ten days the diversity and richness of a culture that goes beyond the tea at five PM and parliamentary monarchy.
For details on the activities organized by the British Embassy in our country, OnCuba spoke with Rhys Patrick, event organizer and head of its Political and Communication Section.
“We are very happy to organize it, and we do it basically to share and show the depth and diversity of British culture, that is, the modern culture, not only of past centuries. We wanted to really reveal a modern, cosmopolitan, heterogeneous, open face, which is the main reason to organize a week of British Culture.
“We try to get as much as possible each year, so this time is not really a week, but ten days, because we could not getthe entire program, all events, in just seven days. There will be music, theater, dance, history, science, literature, activities for children, adults, youth, British Week is for all Cubans, “he said.
This event was first held on the island in 2012, to mark the 250th anniversary of the capture of Havana by the English. On that occasion, the painting The Capture of Havana by the English squadron by Dominic Serres, was exhibited for the first time to the Cuban public
“We wanted to make a” cultural take “250 years after the English arrived here. After that 2012, every year we have seen more participation, more knowledge about our modern culture, “said Rhys Patrick.
Although the program includes book launches, photo exhibitions, exhibition of audiovisual and lectures, Rhys Patrick told OnCuba the presence of music, theater and dance is very strong this year for two reasons, “because Britain has much force in music, everyone knows Amy Winehouse or the Beatles, and also because the Cubans are very interested in music and dance. ”
“What really marks this Week as opposed to the others is the extraordinary participation of Cuban groups and artists. We did not bring a plane or a ship full of British, British Week in Cuba is for Cubans playing, exploring, and showing our culture. From Alice in Wonderland to The Beatles, from Charles Darwin to Winston Churchill, “he said.
Finally, the event organizer said that one of the reasons why the celebration of British Culture Week is successful are “historical and cultural ties between the two countries and will strengthen, encourage and strengthen ties, as well as the cultural talent that exists on both sides of the Atlantic. I think it helps to strengthen bilateral relations, “he said.
