An atypical year of learning has touched the world, Cuba and therefore the Office of the Historian of Camagüey city. A year where work was tempered by new ways of doing and saying.
February was marked by the national Symposium “Challenges in the management and administration of cities”, in its fourteenth edition, where specialists and guests debated about public space as an articulator and revitalizer of historic centers. Also during this month the Office of the Historian of the city of Camagüey was granted the highest award by the Excelencias Group.
From March to June during the most complex times of the pandemic, an extensive information work dedicated to the situation was deployed; where the institution, through Audiovisuales Príncipe and the website, added the necessary information and timely awareness. Other tasks were also developed in this stage, such as the sanitation of public spaces; and, through the experience of teleworking, details of the interior design project of the Railway Museum and the pedestrianization of Independencia street were finalized; starting on the latter, a consultation system.
July arrived and the summer was planned in a different way, along with hygiene measures and epidemiological surveillance. City tours where history, culture and heritage came together were enjoyed by foreigner and locals. From the cultural sphere, the achievements of the Rumba y Punto project also stand out, which had several presentations, despite the known limitations.
The international cooperation projects continued their activity schedules, adapting to the new normal. Soccer in the neighborhoods and Creative Industries; they interacted with the community to continue their advancement. Also, through the project “Comprehensive Management Model of the Office of the Historian of Havana and the Network of Offices of the Historian and Curator of Cuba”, the Railway Museum was provided with new equipment, also enabling a laboratory for the digitization of documents in the institutional Archive.
During 2020, the work in the General Cemetery did not stop, working intensively in sections of high heritage value and in the project of the future Interpretation Center of the oldest Necropolis in operation.
From phase 3, together with the municipal and provincial Defense Council and the temporary work groups of these bodies, the attention to the historic center in matters of ordinance, community health and matters related to good institutional and citizen practices was resumed.
This year, in addition to the complex situation generated by COVID-19, the unfortunate news of the death of Dr. Eusebio Leal filled everyone with consternation; especially, those who most closely accompanied him in his consecrated work. The funeral honors for this great man led to the signing of a book of condolences available at the Santa Cecilia Convention Center for the thousands of people from Camagüey who came to say their last goodbye. Already in the month of December, and also as a posthumous tribute, the documentary “Leal, insurmountably faithful” was shown; within the framework of the activities for the twelfth anniversary of the Network of Offices of the Historian and the Curator of the heritage cities of Cuba.
December was also a lavish month in awards, as the innovation award was received at the First Virtual Press Festival and the Office of the Historian was recognized as a Nationally Distinguished Collective. Likewise, four of our workers received the Raúl Gómez García medal from the National Culture Workers’ Union.
During 2020 the Office of the Historian of the city of Camagüey worked to increase the professional skills of the institution, rethink the work from the new scenario, continue to persevere in the protection of the cultural legacy of a city and its historical center, declared World Heritage Site, emphasizing one of the practices that brings the most strengths to its management model: citizen participation.
Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García
