The Center for Cuban Studies is a non-profit, tax-exempt educational institution in New York City with a national membership base. Founded in 1972, it is dedicated to providing information about contemporary Cuba and contributing to a normalization of relations between Cuba and the United States.

The Cuban Art Space is incorporated within the Center for Cuban Studies and its goal is to promote the work of Cuban artists, especially those still living and working in Cuba, and to educate the U.S. public about Cuba’s cultural life. Please check out cubanartspace.net for more information.

history and purpose

The Center opened in New York City in 1972, organized by a group of scholars, writers, artists and other professionals who hoped to counter the effects of U.S. policy toward Cuba. The 1961 U.S. ban on trade with and travel to Cuba, followed by the break in diplomatic relations, had created a de facto embargo on information about Cuba. The Center has served as a vital communication link between the U.S. and Cuba and through its publications, organized travel to Cuba, library services, exchange programs and art projects has brought the Cuban experience closer to us.

A major goal of the Center’s work remains unrealized: the normalization of relations between the United States and Cuba. It is hoped that through an ever-expanding program of information exchanges, exhibits and travel the Center can contribute to the realization of that goal.

From its beginning the Center has stressed the importance of Cuban art and culture, early on collecting posters, photographs, prints, drawings, paintings, ceramics and other examples of the visual arts in Cuba, as well as thousands of slides, catalogs and other information about Cuban artists. All of this material is organized so that it can be both exhibited and accessible to researchers, and the Cuban Art Space has a regular program of exhibits open to the public.

The Center’s own collection contains hundreds of works donated by Cuban artists and by U.S. travelers to Cuba as well as thousands of posters and photographs. Many of these works are available as exhibits which travel around the country.

the cuban art space

The space opened in 1999 as a gallery of regularly scheduled exhibits and cultural programs. In 1991, the Center spearheaded a successful lawsuit against the U.S. Treasury Department. The decision in this lawsuit legalized the importation and sale of original Cuban art. Once the Center’s Art Space opened, it began to exhibit at first its own collection and over the years has continued to bring in the works of Cuban artists.

For information on current exhibits and traveling exhibits for rent, as well as art for sale, the Art Space has its own website, www.cubanartspace.net.