 Phase II: The Building Preservation Project The Cuban Council of Patrimony, which operates Finca Vigia as a museum, is working diligently to restore and preserve and the home. Their tireless efforts over the decades are evident and appreciated by Hemingway scholars worldwide. However, maintaining a wooden home in a tropical environment requires huge amount of resources than are currently available.
The Finca Vigía Foundation with its partner the
National Trust for Historic Preservation received a license from the United
States Treasury Department in May 2005 to assist our Cuban colleagues with
the preservation efforts.
The Cubans have begun the restoration process. Our role is to
collaboratively support them. A team of American architects,
structural engineers, geotechnical experts that have been organized by the
Foundation and the Trust, are preparing to offer that help. Cuban and American groups are poised to move forward together for the joint purpose of restoring Hemingway's home and
the contents within. Article 6 of the Preservation Agreement provides for Phase II of the Preservation
Project: to assess the restoration and conservation of Hemingway's home and the other buildings on Finca Vigía's compound, as well as Hemingway's famous fishing boat, Pilar, which is displayed on the grounds.
Building upon the positive collaboration that has been established throughout Phase I,
we are now commencing Phase II. Finca Vigía's problems are serious and need
immediate attention. Leaks in the roof have forced the curators to remove part
of the library to a safer location. Hemingway's bed in his writing room has
also been removed due to water damage. The railings around the veranda are
rusted and collapsing. The building overall is in need of major structural
repairs. Pilar, which was restored several years ago and is presently stored under an open
roof, is also in need of further preservation work, including a thorough survey
to determine her present overall condition.
The CNPC and Ministry of Culture have long hoped to make the necessary repairs to
Finca Vigía and have made extensive plans to accomplish this task. Their problem has been finding the
resources to undertake the project. Phase II aims to assist the Cuban Ministry of Culture and the CNPC to
restore and preserve Finca Vigía by providing help in the following and other areas: technical assistance; financial assistance; and material assistance.
Technical Assistance: We understand that
the CNPC has already prepared a technical assessment for the restoration and
preservation needs at Finca Vigía. We are prepared to help supplement the work of the CNPC with
international experts in historical preservation and conservation. Included among the experts we
could provide are Professor Leland Cott of the Harvard Graduate School of
Design, who has done extensive research through his teaching on preservation
and planning in Cuba, and Dana Hewson, Clark Senior Curator for Watercraft at
Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut.
Financial Assistance: We understand that one obstacle to realizing the goals of CNPC
has been a lack of resources. We are optimistic that, given the strong North
American interest in the legacy of Ernest Hemingway in Cuba, funding for the
Preservation Project will be available. It will be our responsibility to raise these funds and to ensure that
they can be brought to Cuba. In cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and CNPC, and other appropriate Cuban
ministries and officials, we are prepared to embark upon a fundraising campaign
for the restoration of Finca Vigía.
Material Assistance: We understand that
the building assessment and repair at Finca Vigía and for the preservation of Pilar may require importation into Cuba of building materials and equipment.
It will be our responsibility, working with the Ministry of Culture,
CNPC, and other appropriate Cuban ministries and officials, to assist in the
identification and purchase/or donation of materials and equipment, to obtain
appropriate export licenses, and to arrange for the transport to Cuba of any
materials and equipment that are needed for the project. To the extent such materials and
equipment are available in Cuba, Cuban sources will be respected.
We
are deeply gratified by the success achieved to date with Phase I of the
Preservation Project. We are
excited about the prospect of developing and implementing this next phase -- to
restore and preserve Finca Vigía - a place so important to both Cuban and
American cultural history. We look
forward to the execution of a supplementary agreement defining our cooperative
goals for the Finca Vigía Preservation Project. |
