Superior Institute of Art (ISA): Four decades gestating artists

Numerous decorations support the work of the centre; an example is the award to it of the Alejo Carpentier Medal and the Imperial Prize awarded by the Japan Art Association

Omar Valino, Roberto Fabelo, Barbara Balbuena, Luis Alberto García, René Francisco Rodríguez, Corina Mestre, Vivian Martínez Tabares and Rosario Cardenas are some of the personalities related by the magic of the ISA. Some question the existence of a blood relationship between them, but others might speculate on the common artistic origin which have been gestated their different contributions. The University of the Arts (ISA) is the training center for these and many many creators of the island. The Institute of Higher Studies, the only one of its kind in the country, is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

The institution is reserving a special program for the deserved celebration which will bring together conferences, festivals, audio-visual presentations and exhibitions. The recent concert performance Barracón by the ISA feted its 40th anniversary on the Mella theatre stage. The teaching of dance, theatre, music, visual arts and audio-visual media has achieved a considerable prestige from the former grounds of Cubanacan. Graduates of the Higher Institute of Arts enjoy proven competence and professional rigor, acquired during their student career.

September 1976 marks the start of the Academy that reconfigures the artistic cartography of the country, to beget new and enormous figures of national culture. Among the domes of red brick and winding corridors the students grow and specialize in various fields, including critical discourse on expressions such as theatre and dance.

With an architecture inscribed within the jewels built by the Revolution, the massive constructions and multiform ISA hosts hundreds of students associated with the modes of daytime courses or meetings. Initially the site housed only the faculties of Arts, Performing Arts and Music. Later they were added profiles Dance and Broadcasting, which has led to a deepening of knowledge about other fields of creative action.

Numerous pedagogical decorations support the work of the centre; examples of this are the Alejo Carpentier Medal and the Imperial Award from the Japan Art Association. The merit of greater visibility and depth of the ISA lies in the work of each of its young artists, inside and outside of the island.