BY CAROLE CARON

MONTREAL - From September 22 to October 6, people in Quebec will get a chance to discuss the role of culture in Cuba today with two distinguished Cuban guests. The Carrefour culturel d'amitié Québec-Cuba, a solidarity group with Cuba in Montreal, is organizing a conference on the subject September 27-28. The Carrefour has invited Norberto Codina, editor of La Gaceta de Cuba, the magazine of the National Union of Writers and Artists in the Caribbean island; and Juan Padrón, a member of the editorial board of Casa de las Américas, a publishing house based in Havana, to be the featured speakers at the event. Claude Morin, a professor at the University of Montreal, will also address the meeting.

The conference is getting a broad hearing. The Quebec government agreed to pay for the plane tickets for Codina and Padrón. The Assistant-Teachers Union of the Quebec University in Montreal has offered rooms for the event. A solidarity group on a college campus has contributed CAN$200 (US$150) toward expenses. Codina and Padrón will tour college and university campuses to speak about current developments in Cuba today and specifically about the role of culture. So far, meetings are planned at three universities and one college.

The second week of their trip will be devoted to speaking engagements in other cities in Quebec such as Trois-Rivieres, Quebec City, and Chicoutimi that was devastated by heavy floods in August. While the organization of the tour is only at its beginning, interest is growing. Now that campuses are open students are beginning to volunteer to join the organizing committee.

Carole Caron is a member of the Carrefour culturel d'amitié Québec-Cuba, and one of the organizers of the conference on culture.  
 
 
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