The XV Bienal de La Habana
ITINERARY
November 14-18, 2024
The Performance Art Museum
Meet at Havana International Airport
When you arrive in Havana, you will pass through customs, get your bags, and exit the airport. Don’t be alarmed if it takes a long time to get your luggage. Cuba has a slow x-ray system to scan all bags. When you exit the airport, you will be greeted by our Cuban tour guide, chauffeur, and U.S.-based tour leader who will be holding a Performance Art Museum sign. We will gather outside the airport in groups according to arrival times and transfer to our Havana hotel.
DAY 1: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14 | ¡BIENVENIDOS A CUBA!
Arrive at our accommodations and check in to your rooms
We will be staying in the luxurious Tribe Caribe Cayo Hueso. This intimate boutique hotel is located in Centro Havana. Each room has been restored to preserve the 1930’s architecture and design. Sourced with period pieces and original contemporary artwork by Cuban and Pan-Caribbean artists througout the rooms, rooftop bar and restaurant and cafe on site. We have the hotel private for our group. Choose between a standard, suite, or penthouse room.
Tribe Caribe Cayo Hueso Hotel
6:00 pm ~ Welcome reception, introductions, and opening of insallation by Xandro Segade at La Carpintería
Begin our experience in Havana with an opening reception for the highly anticipated installation, "Anoche / Last Night,” in Old Havana’s newest creative space, La Carpintería. We’ll be the first to experience the captivating time-based work by artist Xandro Segade with Daniel Leyva for the Performance Art Museum. As darkness descends, immerse yourself in the pulsating rhythms, mesmerizing visuals, and the electric atmosphere of this one-of-a-kind live performance event, showcasing local and international artists creating an ephemeral masterpiece of sound, light, and movement. The installation's unique blend of live music, dance, and DJ sets will transport you to the heart of Havana's nightlife, blurring the lines between art and reality. Celebrate with traditional Cuban drinks and light bites while mingling with our fellow group of invited travelers, the artists Xandro and Daniel and their team, and Havana art enthusiasts at this opening reception.
Opening of “Anoche / Last Night,” by Xandro Segade with Daniel Leyva
8:00 pm ~ After-party and dinner at Tribe Caribe
Celebrate this historic collaboration through the iron curtain between our two neighboring nations with a party in Havana. Our beautiful hotel boasts a lovely rooftop restaurant where we will enjoy a light buffet dinner and drinks in the company of 25 of our special collaborator guests.
After-party celebration at Tribe Caribe
DAY 2: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 | ART DAY
Breakfast at our hotel
Wake up to a typical Cuban breakfast spread of eggs, fruit, breads, ham, cheese, juice, and many other selections at the hotel cafe.
Daily deluxe breakfast buffet at hotel
10:30 am ~ Visit to Instituto Superior de Arte with Felipe Dulzaides
Che Guevara and Fidel Castro turned a former country club into the only school for all thearts in Latin America through an ambitious dream to break traditional forms and empowertheir arts & culture. Although unfinished in its construction, it is now Cuba’s most advancedschool of the arts with architecture revered worldwide. The ISA has schools for dance,music, visual art, theater, and media arts. We will have the opportunity to tour the danceschool left in ruins on a guided tour by artist Felipe Dulzaides.
Instituto Superior de Arte
12:00 pm ~ Kcho Studio visit
Kcho, a Cuban artist whose real name is Alexis Leyva Machado, is renowned for his large-scale sculptures and installations that often incorporate found objects, particularly boats and oars. These works evoke themes of migration, exile, and the human condition, deeply resonating with Cuba's history and its people's experiences. A guided hour-long visit to Kcho's Havana studio during the Bienal offers a rare glimpse into the artist's creative process and a chance to engage in intimate conversation about his work and its profound significance. Surrounded by works in progress and completed pieces, his powerful and thought-provoking ouvre will give unique insights into one of Cuba's most celebrated contemporary artist’s vision and reflections on Cuban identity and the universal human desire for freedom and belonging.
Kcho’s artist studio
1:00 pm ~ Lunch at Mia Paladar
We will enjoy a light lunch at this charming paladar on the sea in Havana serving Caribbean and Latin cuisine.
Casa Mia Paladar
3:00 pm ~ Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Cuban Collection, with Cristina Figueroa Vives
The National Museum of Fine Arts was designed by Cuban architect Alfonso Rodriguez Pichardo in 1955 and is dedicated to the history of Cuban painting from 1500 – 2000. Cristina Figuroa Vives, a renown Cuban art curator, will walk us through the history of the island through the eyes of its visual artists.
Cristina Vives and the National Museum of Fine Art
4:00 pm ~ Official Biennial opening at Centro Wifredo Lam
The Official Biennial opening at Centro Wifredo Lam is a vibrant and exclusive affair, marking the commencement of Havana's celebrated art festival. High-profile art collectors will experience the pulse of Cuba's contemporary art scene, surrounded by a dynamic mix of both local and international artists, curators, and fellow art enthusiasts. The evening unfolds amidst thought-provoking exhibitions and installations, showcasing the latest works from both established and emerging Cuban and international artists. It's an exceptional opportunity to witness groundbreaking artistic expressions, engage in stimulating conversations, and forge connections within the global art community. Amidst the creative energy and cultural immersion, the Biennial opening at Centro Wifredo Lam promises an unforgettable celebration of contemporary art and its profound impact on society.
Opening of the Havana Biennial
6:00 pm ~ Return to Hotel
Recharge your batteries, check email, explore Havana on your own, or take a siesta.
Havana street
8:00 pm ~ Dinner at El Cocinero
El Cocinero (“The Cook”) is just as much about the Havana arts scene as it is about food. Built into the same building as the Cuban Art Factory, this paladar pushes the limits of private industry and government cooperation in an atmosphere offering landmark views and enthusiasm for a variety of mediums. The restaurant makes use of the old smokestack of a 100 year old and long abandoned cooking oil factory along the Almendares River between the Vedado and Miramar neighborhoods.
El Cocinero Restaurant
10:00 pm ~ ATTEND BIENNALE OPENING PARTIES & EVENTS TBA (optional)
On opening night, the creative energy of Havana will buzz with excitement, showcasing a curated selection of contemporary art, conversations with artists, curators, and fellow art enthusiasts. Fueled by live music, cocktails, and the thrill of new artistic ideas, the Biennial’s opening parties are a testament to Havana's artistic spirit and its undeniable place on the world's cultural stage.
Havana Biennial art openings
DAY 3: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16 | VIÑALES VALLEY
Breakfast at our hotel
Wake up to a typical Cuban breakfast spread of eggs, fruit, breads, ham, cheese, juice, and many other selections. The buffet is open daily from 7:00am.
Daily Cuban breakfast
11:30 am ~ Private Performance with Modern Dance Company "Mi compania"
The Cuban dance community is multi-faceted and a world of its own. There are multiple professional dance companies that perform in Cuba and globally. Susana Pous is the Artistic Director of Mi Compania. She is originally from Barcelona and grew up in Spain studying classical ballet. Ms. Pous has lived in Havana, Cuba for over 20 years where she has worked with the internationally renowned DanzAbierta, first as a dancer and since 2008, as the Company’s principal choreographer. We will be visiting the company’s spacious dance studio in Miramar to experience an excerpt of their newest work and speak with the dancers.
Mi Compañia Dance Company
1:00 pm ~ Lunch at Vista Mar
Experience the heart of Cuban cuisine at Vistamar, Havana's oceanfront gem. With breathtaking views of the sea beyond a mid-century modern infinity pool shaped like a piano, it offers a flavorful menu of grilled seafood, vegetables, and meats.
Vista Mar Restaurant
2:30 pm ~ Artist Studio visit TBD
3:30 pm ~ Visit El Apartamento Gallery
In the El Vedado neighborhood in Havana, domestic spaces now serve as several of the most relevant independent venues on the local art scene. El Apartamento is the home of a younger generation of conceptual artists who live and work both inside and outside of Cuba.
El Apartamento Art Gallery
4:30 pm ~ Time at leisure
Return to the hotel, recharge your batteries, check email, explore Havana on your own, or take a siesta.
Sunset on Havana’s Malecón
7:30 pm ~ Dinner at Eclectico Restaurant Private room
The Italian restaurant Eclectico is a tiny corner of Italy in Cuba that offers traditional Mediterranean recipes and dishes, pairing them with the intense Caribbean scent. Their Cuban Chef, Alejandro González, and his staff propose an interpretation of Italian cuisine in a vibrant style, emphasizing the artisanal ingredients and choosing local farmers and small producers.
10:00 pm ~ ATTEND BIENNALE OPENING PARTIES & EVENTS (optional)
DAY 4: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17 | BIENAL OPENINGS
Breakfast at our hotel
Wake up to a typical Cuban breakfast spread of eggs, fruit, breads, ham, cheese, juice, and many other selections. The buffet is open daily from 7:00am - 10:00am.
10:00 am ~ Bienal art walk in Old Havana
We will get to know the historic core of Havana. In this UNESCO World Heritage Site, one can find extraordinary Colonial architecture of Cuban baroque and art nouveau, both well preserved and decayed, many galleries, contemporary centers, boutique museums, and little shops. We'll start at la Plaza de las Armas, Havana’s first square and the origin point of the city’s settlement. Around the corner, we'll find the Plaza de la Catedral. There we’ll visit the collective graphic arts workshop, Taller de Gráfica. This public studio for local artists was established by Pablo Neruda and Che Guevara at the beginning of the Revolution as a place where artists living and visiting Havana work on printmaking. Next. we'll see the an exhibit at the Wilfredo Lam Center. The third stop is Plaza San Francisco where we'll see the Basílica and finish at the Plaza Vieja where we can see a couple of exhibits of contemporary Cuban art at two of Havana’s most important contemporary art centers, El Centro del Desarollo de Arte Contemporánea and la Fototeca de Cuba.
Havana Biennial walking tour
1:00 pm ~ Lunch at Doña Eutimia
Doña Eutimia is one of Cuba’s oldest favorites. This little paladar, nestled in the alley next to the Taller de Gráfica, is just off the Cathedral Square. A reliable option for traditional Cuban, Doña Eutimia cooks up recipes passed down through generations, with specialties like "ropa vieja" (dirty laundry), a Cuban classic made of stewed shredded lamb.and staples such as malanga (taro fritters) with a side of obligatory rice and beans. We also recommend their refreshing "mojito frapé" to drink.
Doña Eutimia restaurant
2:30 pm ~ Free time in Havana!
Continue exploring Havana on your own. We'll recommend museums, restaurants, shopping, galleries, neighborhoods to explore, and more. Be back at the hotel lobby ready to leave for our evening's activities by 6:30 pm.
Exploring Havana
6:30 pm ~ Sunset Classic Convertible Scenic Car Ride
We will travel to our evening events “Havana Style” in a fleet ofspecially selected 1950s American convertibles that will take us on a scenic route throughHavana’s most beautiful neighborhoods. Stop briefly at Plaza de la Revolución to seeministries, monuments to José Martí, and the colossal image of Che Guevara and otherRevolution superstars.
1940’s & ‘50s classic convertibles
7:30 pm ~ Final Dinner at Yarini
Yarini Habana is located on the top of the recently remodeled building that houses the Gorría art gallery, one of the most active cultural spaces in the city. A striking green neon hat displays the entrance, and after climbing a long staircase you arrive at the stunningly calm restaurant. The design is minimalist and modern, with a cool industrial vibe.
Dinner at Yarini
10:00 pm ~ Bienal party, concert and event (optional)
Concert in Havana
DAY 5: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18 | ADIOS HAVANA
Breakfast at our hotel
Wake up to a typical Cuban breakfast spread of eggs, fruit, breads, ham, cheese, juice, and many other selections. The buffet is open daily from 7:00 - 10:00 am.
Art purchase deliveries at the hotel
For those of you who purchased art, the dealer will deliver it to our hotel wrapped, stamped, and ready to take home on our final morning.
Transfer to José Martí International Airport
We will shuttle people to the airport in small groups according to departure times. You will be assisted through check in and customs.
