CHICAGO, IL - 3/30/2016 (PRESS RELEASE JET) -- Latino Art Beat, a Chicago based national not for profit arts organization has launched a youth arts initiative in Havana, Cuba to coincide and compliment its 2016 National USA Latino Art Beat competition, themed, “Friendship between the Youth of the United States and Cuba”. This year’s competition focuses on the youth of both countries allowing them to display their artistic talents by creating inspired interpretations of the competitions theme. Winners will be awarded college scholarships.
Latino Art Beat, which in 2017 will be entering its 20th year of encouraging young artists on to higher education through the award of scholarships, celebrates the various customs and cultures of Hispanic Heritage. This year’s competition is encouraging USA students to have a better understanding of Cuba and its wonderful contributions to art, music, film and literature. Equally allowing for Cuban youth to better understand and appreciate similarities they have with the youth of the United States.
Don Rossi Nuccio, the President and Co-Founder of Latino Art Beat has made recent in person presentations to high schools, which have participated in Latino Art Beat competitions in the past, including Duke Ellington High School, Washington, D.C., Doral Academy of the Arts, Doral (Miami), Florida and New World School of the Arts, Miami, Florida – where he received overwhelming enthusiasm and appreciation for this year’s new competition theme.
Equally, Don made presentations with high school students in Havana at the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes “San Alejandro”, which is the oldest and most prestigious fine arts school in Cuba. It was founded in 1818 at the Convent of San Alejandro by the French painter, Jean Baptiste Vermay, who was its first director. It is located today in a monumental building built in the early 1940s. Its students were very keen on participating in this exciting and milestone initiative!
“The level of interest of young people both here in the United States and in Cuba was overwhelming in regards to participating in a mutual art competition plus having the opportunity to meet their counterparts at the planned exhibits of winning artwork in both countries. This initiative is a great example of President Obama’s people-to-people exchanges thus creating an atmosphere of mutual understanding and in the case of Latino Art Beat, creating young enduring friendships”, says Don Rossi Nuccio.
While in Havana, Don was invited by The White House to attend the Tampa Bay vs. Cuba National Team’s baseball game which both President Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro attended with their families. This game had a staggering attendance of over 40,000 fans. Don had a VIP invitation to the historic Rolling Stones Concert, which as stated by lead singer, Mick Jagger “a few years ago rock music wouldn’t have been presented here in Cuba, but now here we are!” The Stones concert was free to the general public and had an attendance of well over 400,000 fans.
This milestone Latino Art Beat arts initiative and student exchange is being co-ordinated with the US Embassy in Havana and also with major Cuban cultural organizations and government agencies to promote its success.
Students interested in learning more about Latino Art Beat can visit the website at www.latinoartbeat.com.
Media Contacts:
Company Name: Latino Art Beat, Inc.Full Name: Don Rossi Nuccio
Phone: (773)291-6901
Email Address: Send Email
Website: www.latinoartbeat.com