Cuba's Unfinished Spaces

Castro's dream for Cuba's artists and the three architects who tried to make it a reality.

Castro's dream for Cuba's artists and the three architects who tried to make it a reality.

In 1961, three young, visionary architects were commissioned by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara to create Cuba's National Art Schools on the grounds of a former golf course in Havana, Cuba.

Construction of their radical designs began immediately and the school's first classes soon followed.

Dancers, musicians and artists from all over the country reveled in the beauty of the schools, but as the dream of the revolution quickly became a reality, construction was abruptly halted and the architects and their designs were deemed irrelevant in the prevailing political climate.

Fidel Castro: Contested legacy, competing narratives

We analyse the competing narratives around Fidel Castro; plus, the UK's new surveillance law, the 'Snoopers' Charter'.

On The Listening Post this week: Analysing the competing narratives around Fidel Castro. Plus, the UK's wide-ranging new surveillance law that's being called the 'Snoopers' Charter'.

Remembering Castro: A contested legacy

In death, as in life, Fidel Castro presented journalists with a quandary - some considered him a revolutionary hero, others saw him as a repressive tyrant. We look at the competing media narratives around Castro's legacy.

Talking us through the story: Ann Louise Bardach, journalist and author; Fernando Ravsberg, journalist and blogger; Juan Tamayo, former reporter, Miami Herald; and Sergio Gomez, international editor, Granma newspaper.

Cuba's Fidel Castro, former president, dies aged 90

Fidel Castro, Cuba's former president and leader of the Communist revolution, has died aged 90, his brother Raul has announced.

"The commander in chief of the Cuban revolution died at 22:29 hours this evening," President Raul Castro said.

Fidel Castro ruled Cuba as a one-party state for almost 50 years before Raul took over in 2008.

His supporters said he had given Cuba back to the people. But he was also accused of suppressing opposition.

Obituary: Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro: A life in pictures

Ashen and grave, President Castro told the nation in a late night broadcast on state television that Fidel Castro had died and would be cremated on Saturday.

There would now be several days of national mourning on the island.

Despite the Bay of Pigs invasion, an economic blockade, the mafia and exploding cigars Castro remained in power.  More important the Missiles of October in 1962 he remained in power long after most world leaders had left the world stage.