The Music Fund for Cuba's biggest and most ambitious project yet: the restoration of the Miramar Theatre in Havana.

The £200,000 restoration of the Miramar Theatre in Havana will restore this community theatre to the local people and provide a vital performance and rehearsal space for arts and music students from the local schools. In Cuba excitement about the project is palpable and work is well underway in the UK to raise the money required for the restoration.

Cuba's National Centre for Arts and Music Schools are working with the Music Fund for Cuba on this project as the restored theatre will give them a performance space sadly missing at the moment. But the potential of the project is more far-reaching. Teachers and officials at CNEArt plan the theatre as a bridge between arts and the community - with students themselves taking art to the local people, through workshops and education projects as well as performance.

"The theatre will be a beautiful link between the schools and the local community." Clara Gonzalez, Deputy Director, National School of Arts.

Background

The 600-seat Miramar theatre lies at the heart of the Playa district of Havana. Originally built as a theatre, over time the building was used as a cinema and meeting place for local people. Like most buildings in Cuba it has been battered by hurricanes and degraded by humidity. But due to a chronic shortage of funds the theatre never received the regular maintenance required in that climate, and fell into decay.

Work has already begun on the restoration which is expected to take 3 years and is schuduled for completion by 2011.

Please give generously to this appeal.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.