Professor Patrick Schreiber, in the RWC Art and Visual Communication Department, is going to Cuba with nine other graphic artists on a cross-cultural exchange program now in its fifth year. The nine people selected for the program will travel to Havana, Cuba, to participate along with nine Cuban designers in the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Center for Cross-Cultural Design. The AIGA is the oldest professional organization for design.
“AIGA is a national professional organization, but is going international sometime soon,” said Professor Schreiber.
This year’s theme is “Diseno en Musica,” which translates to “Design in Music.” This is a registered program that is sanctioned by the United States Government under the Office of Foreign Assets Control General License.
During the Cold War, the United States and Cuba blocked trade with each other, making travel between the two countries very difficult. So to this day no Americans can go to Cuba without special permission from the U.S. government.
While having permission and the correct paperwork to prove this group can be there, they face many of challenges. They can’t use American money, which means they have to convert it into a way that can be used in Cuba.
They can’t use cell phones anywhere to call people, not even their family; they can’t buy any souvenirs to take home with them either.
This is a research project, which means the only things they can use are a camera, recorder/camcorder, and a journal to record their thoughts and experiences of their trip. The only souvenirs they can bring home are the stories and memories they have had during this experience.
This is Professor Schreiber’s first time to travel to Cuba. Though he’s not sure what to fully expect out of this entire experience or what will happen, he says that he’s very excited to be going.