The first day of the Santiago Creativo 5.0 festival, which runs from today until Sunday, focused on the contributions that culture can make to local development and the support needed to promote common well‑being. The event brings together entrepreneurs, academics, artists and experts in music, literature, visual arts, gastronomy, crafts and other cultural expressions, as well as innovation. The festival opened with a keynote address titled “The Creative Economy at the Service of the Territory: Strategies, Alliances and Challenges of Creative Cultural Enterprises.” The speaker was Dr. C. Reinier Limonta, director of the Office of Territorial Development in the province of Santiago de Cuba and professor at the University of Oriente. Limonta highlighted the many values of art and culture in Santiago de Cuba and noted that the current diversity of economic actors presents an opportunity for culture to become a link in a value chain that integrates the region’s cultural heritage into creative industries. According to Limonta, solid progress requires an innovation system rooted in the everyday practices of entrepreneurs. He emphasized the need for financing sources and mechanisms, cultural marketing training, technical advisory support, and the involvement of the City Conservator’s Office. He also proposed the creation of intermunicipal circuits and cultural corridors that would articulate local knowledge and practices, ensuring that culture remains the soul, memory and identity of Santiago de Cuba while contributing to the city’s territorial well‑being. In addition to the theoretical sessions, the festival’s first day featured a conga gathering, a tribute to the group Tambores de Enrique Bonne, the opening of the exhibition “Melodías del Alma” by Israel Tamayo, and performances by various musical groups. Santiago Creativo 5.0 celebrates the fifth anniversary of Santiago de Cuba’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Music, a status granted on November 8, 2021.
Article and image source: Trabajadores