Travel with VCI

 Join VCI for the 11th Havana Arts Biennial

“Artistic Practices and Social Imagery” and
Exploration into Developing Vermont-Cuba Arts Initiatives

June 2 through 9, 2012

The Havana Arts Biennial is the highlight of the arts scene in Cuba. Throughout the entire city, from the port avenue, to the halls of the Grand Theatre, to the seaside malecon (seawall), streets and studios, historic squares and plazas will showcase the work of the most important traditional and contemporary artists from Cuba as well as invited international guests. Daily and nightly, workshops, performances, presentations, and participatory events celebrate the tremendous spirit and vibrancy of Cuba’s cultural experience.
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Working with the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba, Vermont Caribbean Institute has developed a unique itinerary to highlight this exciting arts event and to provide opportunities to plan collaborative Vermont-Cuba initiatives in the arts. In addition to meetings and presentations with Ludwig Foundation, trip highlights include:

  • Unlimited access to venues of the Havana Art Biennial, 2012.
  • Private visits to the studios of Cuba's most important visual artists
  • Lunch hosted by world-renowned Cuban artists Jose Fuster.
  • Discussions with international & local artists, curators & museum directors.
  • Visit to the Wifredo Lam Center for Contemporary Art.
  • Visit to the Experimental Printing Workshop.
  • Visit to Cuba's National Art Schools.
  • Visit to Habana Gallery, specializing in contemporary Cuban art.
  • Guided tour of the Museum of Fine Arts' Cuban Collection.
  • Visit to Cuba’s premier photographic organization Fototeca de Cuba.
  • Visit to the Center for the Development of Visual Arts.
  • Visit to Ediciones Vigia, a unique publishing house.
  • Guided tour of UNESCO World Heritage Site, Havana Historical Centre.
  • Guided tour of Matanzas City, also known as the Venice of Cuba.

In addition to ongoing VCI support throughout, services include:

  • 7 nights at Hotel Nacional de Cuba (www.hotelnacionaldecuba.com) with breakfast included.
  • International airfare from Montreal’s Trudeau Airport to Havana, Cuba.
  • Art Biennial Pass to have access to all exhibits, venues & events.
  • Some lunches and dinners at some of the best restaurants on the island.
  • Air-conditioned coach transportation and professional driver.
  • All activities, speakers, meetings and meals as described in itinerary except those noted as "optional" or "not included in cost."
  • An expert Cuban English speaking guide and translator throughout the program
  • Official Asistur Cuban health insurance coverage.

Services Not Included :

  • Activities listed as "optional" or "not included in cost" in itinerary.
  • Gratuities for Cuban tour guide, bus driver, chambermaids, restaurant staff, porters, etc.
  • Cuban airport departure tax of 25.00 Cuban convertible pesos.
  • Optional travel interruption and cancellation insurance.

Flight Details
Saturday, June 2 – Cubana Flight CU171 Departs Montreal at 6:35 PM
Arrives Havana at 10:45 PM
Flight duration: 4 hours and 10 minutes

Saturday, June 9 – Cubana Flight CU170 Departs Havana at 1:45 PM
Arrives Montreal at 5:45 PM
Flight duration: 4 hours

Costs (15 participants minimum)
Per participant, double occupancy, including air and ground costs (call for our competitive rates for mission driven travel to Cuba)
Single room supplement (call for our competitive rates for mission driven travel to Cuba)
Plus sliding-scale tax-deductible donation to VCI to support Cuba Arts Initiatives.
All participants will share costs of car-pooling/parking at Montreal’s Trudeau airport.

For more information please contact VCI at 802-864-4334, info@vtcaribbean.org, or visit our website www.vtcaribbean. Please note that participation is not restricted to Vermont residents.
Everyone is welcome.
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VERMONT CARIBBEAN INSTITUTE (VCI) has been licensed by the U.S. government Office of Foreign Assets Control to travel to Cuba in support of its mission and commitment to developing meaningful, collaborative exchange between the people of Vermont and Cuba. We are organizing unique, in-depth travel opportunities to Cuba to experience this remarkable country at a time of significant transition and societal change. In Cuba, we will visit areas of important cultural, community and environmental significance, engaging with Cubans on a daily basis through personal dialogue and exchange. We will seek to develop avenues of collaboration towards mutual wellbeing, intercultural understanding and celebration between Vermont and Cuban cultural communities.

We hope you will join VCI in mission-driven travel opportunities to participate in what President Obama calls the “new beginning” in U.S.-Cuba relations.
 

 

"Discovering the Arts in Cuba" display piece in streets of Havana