Index:
- ICMC 2001 in Havana
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What is the International Computer Music Conference?
Since its launch in 1974, the annual International Computer Music Conference (ICMC) has
developed into the principal international forum for the exchange of artistic, scientific, engineering
and philosophical research in the field of computer music and music technology. The ICMC has
been presented annually in many of the major cultural capitals of the industrialized world. It has
been hosted in Europe, North America, and twice in Asia to date. Recent hosts include: 1997
Thessalonika Greece, 1998 University of Michigan, 1999 Beijing China, 2000 Berlin, and now
Havana, Cuba, in 2001. There has never been an ICMC in any country in Latin America
in the 25 years of its history.
Why the ICMC in Havana?
The 2001 ICMC will be in Havana, Cuba in September. This will be a landmark conference
for several reasons:
- It will be presented for the first time in its history by a developing country and in Latin America.
- We have extensive use of the facilities in Havana, including the elegant
Teatro Amadeo Roldán, which has just been extensively renovated,
23 years after a devestating fire in 1976. Heifetz, Caruso, Rubenstein
and other legendary artists have all performed there since the 1920's. We are
also able to reserve the Casa de las Américas, the Karl Marx Theatre,
and several other major venues in the area. In addition, we are
collaborating with representatives from the Hotel Melia Cohiba,which is
the largest and most well-equipped hotel in Cuba.
The Melia Cohiba has extensive facilities for conference activities,
such as conference halls, simultaneous translation, as well as numerous
restaurants and shops. The Hotel Melia Cohiba and the
Teatro Roldán are both located in the Vedadodistrict,
one of the most historic and central areas of Havana, which is Cuba's business and
cultural center. This area overlooks the sea wall called the
Malecón,a famous promenade for Cubans and tourists alike.
- La Habana Vieja, an historic region of Havana, has been deemed an
official heritage site by UNESCO, "Patrimonio de la Humanidad," meaning "World Heritage Site."
- This project has extensive support from the Cuban Government, the Ministry of Culture,
the Cuban Institute of Music, and the Laboratorio Nacional de Música Electroacústica in Havana.
- Cuba's musical heritage is tremendously rich; we have made important contacts throughout a wide range of the Cuban musical scene, in classical, folkoric and popular idioms. The potential
for projects that expand beyond the usual ICMC programming is quite exciting.
Background
Although it is not widely known, Cuba has been an active member of the international community
in electroacoustic music since the early 60's. In particular, composer Juan Blanco has been
extremely active in this field. Dr. Blanco is the director of the Laboratorio Nacional de Música
Electroacústica and the conference. Maestro Blanco has hosted smaller conferences in Cuba since
1981 entitled "Primavera en Varadero." In 1998 the festival was moved to Havana and is now
called "Primavera en La Habana." Juan Blanco is also on the jury of Bourges Festival in France
called "Concourse International de Musique Electroacoustique."
United States Participation
Even given the current trade restrictions within the current US policy toward Cuba (administrated
via the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of Treasury), there is not a problem
for participation by US citizens in an international conference of this type. The following is from
the US Department of Treasury Web Site:
We are moving forward in the following areas:
-- First, we are seeking to encourage additional religious, scientific, educational, cultural, and
athletic and other exchanges between our two peoples. We will do this by streamlining visa and
licensing procedures for travel between Cuba by qualified persons other than senior Cuban
government officials. The exhibition baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Cuban
national team that will be held in Havana on March 28 is part of those efforts to pursue
people-to-people ties.
-- Second, we are expanding direct licensed passenger flights to Cuba by authorizing flights from
cities other than Miami and to destinations in Cuba other than Havana. We recently approved charter
flights from Miami to Holguin and Camaguey...
...Persons traveling for clearly defined educational activities, including attendance by anyone with
an established interest in the subject matter at a meeting or conference organized by an international
institution or association, and activities related to study for an undergraduate or graduate degree
sponsored by a U.S. college or university
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