The UNEAC National Council candidature has 160 names, to elect 136 effective members.

The congress started Tuesday in this capital's Conference Center, with the presence of 387 delegates throughout the country.

Voting to elect the new members will be secret, and the voters can add names not included in the list.

Once elected, the National Council will choose the UNEAC leadership, comprised of a president, a first vice president, five vice presidents, secretaries and members without specific functions.

Candidates for national associations corresponding to different artistic expressions will be also voted on.

The congress is called to recover the functional nature of the UNEAC, a cultural entity assembling Cuban artists.

The central document was presented in the first session by Miguel Barnet, president of the Congress' organizing committee.

Several participants spoke out for developing a truly socialist culture that opposes hegemony, banality and cultural colonialism.

Qualities in artistic and general education, stimulation and salary policy and cultural values have been issues on the table so far.

(CubaSí)