Unión de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba / UNEAC (Manuel Vidal, cover design), Reinaldo Arenas (author), "Celestino antes del alba," 1967. Book, offset print

Unión de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba (UNEAC)

Founded in August 1961, the Unión de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba (Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba), or UNEAC, is Cuba's national organization representing writers, artists, and cultural workers. Created in the early years of the Revolution, UNEAC became the principal institution for organizing and supporting Cuba's intellectual and artistic community.

UNEAC played a crucial role in promoting Cuban literature and arts through its publishing arm, Ediciones Unión, which published books, and its influential journal Revolución y Cultura. The organization sponsored literary competitions, including the prestigious "Cirilo Villaverde" novel competition, which gave first mention to Reinaldo Arenas's debut novel Celestino antes del alba in 1965. UNEAC also awards the Eduardo Muñoz Bachs National Graphic Design Award, recognizing excellence in Cuban design.

UNEAC remains a central institution in Cuban cultural life, fostering artistic creation, supporting the development of writers and artists, and promoting Cuban culture both nationally and internationally through its diverse programs and publications.