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The Cultural Rights Observatory (ODC) issued an alert on Tuesday regarding the risk of collapse of the house-gallery of visual artist and activist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, located at 955 Damas Street, in the San Isidro neighborhood, Old Havana municipality.
The organization specified on Facebook that the property —also the headquarters of the San Isidro Movement (MSI)— experienced a partial collapse on its upper floor, which compromises the structure of the building.
The building, constructed in the early decades of the 20th century in a modest eclectic style characteristic of working-class neighborhoods of the time, housed the protesters during the San Isidro strike in November 2020, a significant political and cultural milestone in Cuba as it brought to the forefront the struggle of artists, intellectuals, and activists against state censorship and repression.
"The abandonment in which the housing stock throughout the country survives now impacts a property that has acquired a strong symbolic weight in the fight for cultural and human rights in Cuba," stated the ODC in a statement circulated on social media.
In the absence of its owner, imprisoned since July 11, 2021, the observatory reported that the space is experiencing a "deliberate abandonment" despite its significance as a point of cultural resistance.
"This incident could result in the loss of the only material possession left to someone who has wagered everything for their own freedom and that of others," he warned.
The organization also contrasted the situation of Otero Alcántara's home with that of the nearby "official artist spaces," supported by state institutions and international bodies such as the European Union and UNESCO, which it described as "cultural whitewashing."
The ODC called on the institutions and international organizations based in Cuba, including the Regional Office of Culture for Latin America and the Caribbean and the National Council of Cultural Heritage, to speak out and take action regarding the risk facing the artist's home-gallery.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Situation of Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and the Collapses in Cuba
What is the current state of Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara's housing?
The house-gallery of Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is facing the risk of collapse due to a partial failure in its upper floor. This building, located in the San Isidro neighborhood of Havana, is also the headquarters of the San Isidro Movement (MSI) and symbolizes the struggle for cultural and human rights in Cuba.
Why is the housing situation of Otero Alcántara relevant?
The importance of housing lies in the fact that it is a symbol of cultural and political resistance against the Cuban regime. Despite its critical state, Cuban institutions have not provided support for its preservation, in contrast to the spaces of official artists that receive state and international backing.
What is the situation of Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara in prison?
Otero Alcántara has been imprisoned since the protests of July 11, 2021 and was sentenced in 2022 to five years in prison for "insulting national symbols," "disobedience," and "public disorder." He has reported inhumane conditions in prison, including prolonged isolation and lack of adequate medical care.
What measures has the Observatory of Cultural Rights taken regarding Otero Alcántara's housing situation?
The Cultural Rights Observatory has issued an alert and has called on institutions and international organizations in Cuba to speak out and act in response to the risk of collapse of the artist's home-gallery. The organization denounces the deliberate neglect of the property.
How does the housing crisis in Cuba affect the population?
The situation is critical, with numerous collapses and deterioration of buildings throughout the country, especially in Havana. The lack of maintenance and the prioritization of hotel investment over housing have left many families in constant danger and without dignified housing solutions.
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