National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba

{{Short description|Social, cultural and professional organization}} thumb|right|UNEAC plaque in Vedado, Havana '''The National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba''' ('''Unión Nacional de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba''', '''UNEAC''') is a social, cultural and professional organization of writers, musicians, actors, painters, sculptors, and artists of different genres that are Cuban or have strong ties to Cuba.

Since its inception, UNEAC has gathered renowned artists from all areas of the arts, including Alejo Carpentier, José Lezama Lima, René Portocarrero, and Rogelio Martínez Furé<ref>{{cite web |title=Unión Nacional de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba (UNEAC) |url=http://www.min.cult.cu/loader.php?sec=instituciones&cont=uneac |website=Ministerio de Cultura de la República de Cuba |language= Spanish |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409230412/http://www.min.cult.cu/loader.php?sec=instituciones&cont=uneac |archive-date=9 April 2015 |date=15 December 2002}}</ref>.

==History==

It was founded on August 22, 1961, by the Cuban poet, Nicolas Guillen. Initially their objective was uniting the intellectuals within the young Cuban Revolution to maintain a genuine Cuban culture.

Beginning in 1962, the group issued ''La Gaceta de Cuba'', with six annual issues that covered themes in literature, visual art, theater, film, and music.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.uneac.org.cu/publicaciones/la-gaceta-de-cuba |accessdate=25 February 2017 |title=La Gaceta de Cuba |publisher=UNEAC |language=es |archive-date=7 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307050426/http://www.uneac.org.cu/publicaciones/la-gaceta-de-cuba |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Cuban violinist and professor Evelio Tieles was President of the Music Section from 1977 to 1984<ref>{{cite web |title=Evelio Tieles |url=http://www.musicaconcierto.cult.cu/index.php/en/catalogo/instrumentista/216-evelio |website=Centro Nacional de Musica de Concierto |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809031914/http://www.musicaconcierto.cult.cu/index.php/en/catalogo/instrumentista/216-evelio |archive-date=9 August 2016 |language=Spanish}}</ref>.

Manuel Vázquez Portal was expelled from UNEAC because of his dissident views.<ref name="RWB-Manuel Vasquez Portal">{{cite web|url=http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=10839|title=Journalist Manuel Vázquez Portal released|publisher=Reporters Without Borders|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040803060850/http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=10839|archivedate=2004-08-03}}</ref>

== Caracol Contest and Prize== Since 1978, UNEAC has run the annual Caracol Contest, which presents awards in the categories of film, radio, television, and criticism or essay, to creators and artists in Cuban radio or audiovisial media. It is one of the oldest media competitions in Cuba.<ref>{{cite web |title=Del 26 al 28 de octubre Concurso Caracol de la UNEAC |url=https://www.radiocubana.cu/articulos-especializados-sobre-la-radio/del-26-al-28-de-octubre-concurso-caracol-de-la-uneac/ |website=PORTAL DE LA RADIO CUBANA |publisher=Radio Cubana |language=es |date=11 October 2016}}</ref>

== See also == * Ediciones El Puente * Roger Aguilar Labrada

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.uneac.org.cu/ National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba webpage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150823152656/http://www.uneac.org.cu/ |date=2015-08-23 }}

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Category:Cultural organizations based in Cuba Category:Arts organizations established in 1961 Category:1961 establishments in Cuba

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