The International Council of Organizations for Folklore Festivals and Folk Art (CIOFF) is an international non-governmental cultural organization in formal consultative relations with UNESCO. Founded in 1970, the work of CIOFF is to safeguard, promote and spread traditional and popular culture through different forms of expression such as dance, music, games, rites, customs and other arts. The CIOFF will hold its 39th world congress this year in Cuba and will focus on the slave route and the safeguard of cultural diversity.

A biennial event, Visuarte is a meeting of Cuban and international visual artists aimed at sharing experiences and exhibiting their most recent work. The event includes a competition and a theoretical meeting.

The 4th world meeting of casino and salsa dancers and dance academies includes dance lessons, guest speeches, short courses and choreography workshops.

Jo Jazz (Joven Jazz or Young Jazz), created by five-time Grammy winner Chucho Valdés in 1998, is a competition for young jazz singers and composers from 16 to 30 years of age. Many of its contestants, such as Yasek Manzano and Harold López-Nussa, today rank among the most outstanding in the musical panorama of the Island. A special bonus for the winners is the chance to cut an album with Chucho.

It was in the Cathedral of Santiago de Cuba where the first known choir pieces in the Island were composed by the composer Esteban Salas (Havana, 1725-1803), who for years was chapel master. Honouring this tradition, in 1961 Electo Silva, who has been for decades director of Orfeón Santiago, organized the first choir festival. Throughout the years, choral groups from different countries have also participated in the International Choir Festival together with their Cuban counterparts, winners at prestigious international competitions. An intensive programme of concerts in theatres, schools, factories, hospitals and public squares characterizes these days in which audiences can enjoy the best of the repertoires of choral music.

The 10th Digital Art Exhibition and Colloquium seeks to continue promoting the work that is being developed in this field and to foster the exchange of ideas and experiences among artists and experts in this form of artistic creation. The event will include the competition, an international colloquium, and exhibitions by Cuban artists who have participated in this Salon since 1999. Other exhibitions include digital photography and graphic design.

The Video Art festival is aimed at promoting an art that is developed from its link to other digital languages.

The 8th International Meeting on the Management of Historical Centres is organized by the Master Plan for the Comprehensive Revitalization of Old Havana of the City Historian’s Office, which will focus on the “Vulnerability, Risks and Mitigation in Emergency Situations” of historical centres, whether due to natural factors and/or violence, marginality or overcrowding. From the 23rd to the 27th of November, the way in which the Historian’s Office of Havana tackles the integral rehabilitation of the Historical centre will be discussed in a pre-event course, which will include thematic tours and discussions with the experts involved in the rehabilitation efforts. For more information, see evento.manejoygestion@ohc.cu.

Great concert. Manu Chao is José-Manuel Thomas Arthur Chao - a French Latin folk singer of Basque and Galician origin. He sings in French, Spanish, English, Arabic, and Portuguese and his influences - rock, Dr Feelgood, Clash, The Jam - are still obvious. Hugely popular in Cuba and othe part of Latim America, its not often he plays on the island so the atmosphere should be electric. Kelvis Ochoa backs him here - always worth seeing. Free.

A wonderful talent, always funny, bursting with energy and tremendous songs - a fusion of pop and cuban styles. See our contemporary fusion section for more details. Great dj plays cool sounds for late night dancing or smooching. Entry 5 cucs

Rock with one of Cuban rocks old timers, with a 70's feel.

Catch this one. QVA LIBRE are a real one-off band who dont get much promotion or play time but are a bunch of very dedicated, innovative and clever musicians with their fusion of pop, jazz, rock. Quite difficult to categorize but very easy to recommend.

We cant find information about this band but if your a rocker, try them out.

Gala concert from Obiní Batá - top class, traditional rumba. A good choice.

A space for the best of Havana's young trovadors - usually very good stuff.

We dont know Osamu but Ernesto Blanco, brother of the more famous pop-rocker David, is a fine young musician who offers a fusion of trova/pop that can be interesting.

All the above are the best from the Cuban rock stable. You might find some a bit old hat - blasts from the hard and heavy metal past - but the place and crowd are such fun that its normally worth the journey - if youre into rock, that is. The entrance is normally 10 pesos (thats about 30 pence) in local Cuban money.

See above, then go! 5.00 CUC entrance

Celebrating 35 years of artistic performances, this fine trovador is worth your time. Entry 5.00 pesos (local money) or 3 to 5 cucs if tourist.

Djoy is my favourite Dj - normally plays a r 'n b, old soul mix - so this collaboration with heavy metal friends might be fun. Entrance 10 Cuban pesos.

Opening of the Festival of Contemporary Music Festival. Composer, conductor, and classical musician hero, Guido Gavilan (father of the young and brilliant pianist Aldo Lopez Gavilan)founded this event in 1984. It can be very interesting - a place to see whats happening on the Classical contemporary scene here an with notable performers from abroad to boot - Luigi Nono, Krystof Penderecki, Hans Werner Henze, Luis de Pablo, Marlos Nobre, Alfredo del Mónaco and Xavier Montsalvatge, amongst others. Its true that Cuba, on the whole, doesn't offer anything like the breadth and experimentation of the contemporary classical of whats on offer in, say, in northern Europe, but nevertheless, this event is always worth going to just to see whats going on.)