“Since 2010, Times Square Arts has collaborated with the Cuban Artists Fund, with the generous support of Rockefeller Brothers Fund, on nine diverse projects that demonstrate the strength and talent of artists working in Cuba.”
— Debra Simon, Director of Public Art, Times Square Alliance

CAF supports artists and artistic projects in a variety of ways:

  • Technical Assistance

  • Grants to Artists and Art Projects

  • No cost studios space and residencies

  • Public programs and showcase opportunities featuring CAF sponsored artists

  • Advisement

Technical Assistance – For emerging artists, increasing their visibility or organizing their first solo show can be overwhelming. CAF has assisted artists by aiding in:

  • Art handling and shipping

  • Letters of Invitation (facilitating travel)

  • Letters of Recommendation

  • Media Engagement

  • Travel/Accommodations

  • Translation

  • Licensing Rights

  • Organizing Cultural exchange

Grants to Artists and Art Projects – CAF is committed to assisting artists and art projects through grants of funds and in-kind. The follow recipients represent a sample of awards:

  • Arles Del Rio, Roberto Fabelo, Alejandro Pineiro, Esterio Segura, Aimee Garcia, Adriana Contino, Abel Barroso, Ernesto Rancanao, Rachel Valdez Camejo, Jose Parla, Emilio Perez, awards for visual art exhibitions

  • Jose Marti Statue Project, award for a replica statue for Havana’s Historic District

  • Nacional Ballet de Cuba, donation of dozens of ballet shoes, sheet music and musical instruments

To apply for a grant, please send a short summary of the project to the Executive Director. Include artists/organizational profile, project description, timeline, partners (if any), budget and request amount. Please note that CAF receives more requests than it can support.

 

 

Public programs and showcase opportunities – In addition to supporting artists though our core programs, our established partnerships have afforded artists the opportunity to enhance their visibility through innovative public art installations at highly successful venues while affording the public unique programming and exhibitions. The following exemplify our successful partnerships:

  • To date, CAF and the Times Square Alliance (TSA) has yielded nine extraordinary public art exhibitions featuring Cuban artists. The partnership is a natural blend of our respective missions to showcase contemporary artists by engaging them and their audiences at one of the world’s most iconic urban places. Through the site’s electronic billboards, and public plazas, artists are challenged to present Times Square in new ways.

  • Design Havana is a program of EcoArt Project aimed at establishing collaborations with designers and design industry stakeholders in Cuba. The program is co-produced with the Cuban Artists Fund and Art For Promotion. Through this initiative, we aim to promote the potential of a “green” economy in a nation currently standing on the cusp of expanding industrialization, besides discovering new talent in Cuba and pioneering international cultural exchanges as well as technological know-how and eco-sustainable development. Through annual competitions held in May and following ongoing development we created a platform of about 150 Cuban designers and we are now planning new collaborations and initiatives.

Residency Program – Our residencies supports the creation and presentation of contemporary art.  In addition we focus on network support, public exposure, and project and production support. Each year, CAF provides grantees with free private studio space at one of several venues. Although residencies have often been focused on visual arts, we have sponsored residencies for the performing artists such as musicians and dancers.  CAF often offers the public to experience in the artists’ studio experience by attending open-studio sessions where they can meet with artists to discuss their influences, creative processes and challenges.

For more information, send us a message.