Call for Equipment Support & Projects Collaboration to Restore Theatres in Santiago de Cuba after the Disaster of Sandy Hurricane
June 4, 2013
An appeal from Jose Antonio Prades Hung, OISTAT Member - This initiative is supported by CITT and a special session will be presented at Brown Bag Luncheon on Sunday August 18 at the CITT Rendez-vous in Calgary, read more here.
Santiago de Cuba City, June 3, 2013
Dear CITT members:
On behalf of the Cuban community of theatre technicians and artists I would like to appeal to our friends and colleagues around the world for real technological help to rebuild the theatrical life of the city of Santiago de Cuba.
On October 25th, 2012 the disaster of Hurricane SANDY struck Cuba with a dark symphony of noise and destructive wind, mainly in the city of Santiago de Cuba.
The beauty of the city and the creative life and smiles of the citizens were broken for some days, but after that people started to work hard to rescue what they could, and began to rebuild.
Along with many other cultural institutions, the most historical and important theatres in Santiago; the Heredia Convention Centre, the Marti Theatre, and the Childrens’ Theatre, suffered serious damage. Roofs and ceilings were destroyed, interiors were damaged, and much equipment was lost due to exposure to the heavy rains. Sound equipment, lighting equipment, intercom systems, scenery, seating, and many other things were completely ruined.
Because of this, I am asking for any help you can offer in organizing some technical support for these theatres. At the end of this letter you will see the detailed list of the needs of the Marti Theatre, as well as some information about the Teatro Heredia. Cultural authorities such as the Provincial Committee of UNEAC (Union de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba, the largest non-governmental cultural organization in Cuba) are coordinating with Cubana de Aviacion airline to arrange for any donated equipment to be transported to Santiago. The plan is to collect all donations in Toronto, Montreal, Paris, Milan, and Madrid, and then to send them to Santiago via Air Cubana.
If you can possibly donate any of the equipment from the list at the end of this letter (or downloaded from here), please contact:
Professor John Mayberry (OISTAT Tech. Comm. Vice-Chair)York University, Department of Theatre4700 Keele St.Toronto, ON Canada M3J 1P3
I am the contact person and theatre engineer in Santiago, the President of ACITAE, and an OISTAT Individual Member.
My complete address is:
Jose Antonio Prades Hung ACITAE UNEAC/ Comite Provincial UNEAC Heredia 266, Santiago de Cuba CUBA acitae.com@cultstgo.cult.cu
Cultural Exchange Project
I am hoping to host a project, or projects, where theatre students from universities and professional technicians from the industry will be able to volunteer to come to Santiago to help our Cuban theatre technicians and engineers install donated technical equipment. As well as being able to help our community, participants will have a wonderful opportunity for a cultural exchange, in which they will be able to experience the real Cuba and its rich cultural life.
I ask all of you to spread this call to any institutions, foundations, universities, private companies, or individuals involved in theatre, culture, or international initiatives. My hope is that through a number of determined, creative actions we can harness true power to provide real, positive, and transformational help to a theatrical community in need.
With kind regards,
José Antonio Prades Hung. OISTAT Individual Member
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Ing. José Antonio Prades Hung, MS Film Photo Reporter- Sound Engineer acitae uneac/Comite Provincial UNEAC Heredia 266, Santiago de Cuba, CUBA email email
OISTAT Organisation Internationale des Scénographes, Techniciens et Architectes de Théâtre International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians
