Amelia Duarte

The 14th edition of the National Community Culture Award 2014, in the categories of individual, instruction, and project, were awarded to Carmen Soto promoter from Camagüey; the D’Morón Theatre Company, in Ciego de Ávila; and the socio-cultural project Muraleando, in Havana, respectively, according to the National Council of Cultural Centers (CNCC).

The Award is presented every two years by the Ministry of Culture and CNCC in recognition of the achievements and impact of cultural promoters, art instructors, creators and professionals from all spheres of the community.

In this edition, the judging panel – presided by actress and teacher Corina Mestre - considered 10 nominees from among 58 submisssions, including projects such as the Maravillas de la infancia (Matanzas); Con amor y esperanza (Pinar del Río); the Okay dance company (Ciego de Ávila); La Andariega Theatre Company (Camagüey); promoters Gladys Diez Estrada (Mayabeque); Natividad Calderón Fiallo (Havana); and Teodorina Palacios Torres (Villa Clara).

The judging panel explained that in the case of Carmen Soto, the promoter received the award for her contribution to revitalizing the art of puppetry and promoting Cuban historical and cultural artisan traditions.

Meanwhile, Muraleando has developed a process of socio-cultural transformation which has turned the Havana community of Lawton into a popular art gallery, promoting ethical and aesthetic values, and a change in individual and collective behavior.

In addition, D’Morón Theatre Company has positively impacted less privileged communities and shown that, through good participative initiatives of high artistic quality, diverse social issues relating to daily life can be addressed.