Center For Cuban Studies

The Center for Cuban Studies began in nineteen seventy-two as an independent organization dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of contemporary Cuba. Founded by Sandra Levinson, Saul Landau, and Lee Lockwood, the center was established to challenge the existing information landscape regarding the island nation, which had been severely restricted by the United States trade and travel embargo. Its mission has always centered on promoting cultural and educational exchange, including organizing professional research and educational tours that navigate the complex legal requirements for travel between the two countries. Beyond its policy work, the center houses the Cuban Art Space, which preserves a massive collection of over ten thousand items, including silk-screened posters, photographs, and paintings created by Cuban artists. These works provide a visual chronicle of the island's evolution since the late nineteen fifties. The center also maintains the Lourdes Casal Library, a specialized archive of books and primary source documents that remains an essential resource for those studying the history and social fabric of modern Cuba.