The Bienal de La Habana was founded in 1984. It takes place in Havana (Cuba) every two years. It principally aims at promoting the developing world in contemporary art circles, giving priority to Latin American and Caribbean artists, although artists from all over the world submit works. Since its first edition in 1984, the Biennial event has had central themes, among them tradition and contemporary times, challenges, art, society and reflection, man and memory, life with art and urban life. Works emphasize mainly paintings and other two-dimensional displays, using a variety of techniques. History 1st Bienal de La Habana First Chair of the Organizing Committee: Marcia Leiseca The event was established in 1984. This edition exhibited artists only from Latin America and the Caribbean. It was attended by 800 artists from 22 countries, with the collaboration of numerous historians and critics from almost the entire continent of Latin América. The event focused on themes such as tradition and contemporaneity, challenges, art, society and reflection, man and his memory, art and urban life. The artists' works included a wide variety of techniques and trends such as photography, video art, installations and performances. It had a competition in the genres of painting, engraving, drawing and photography. The Wifredo Lam Grand Prize was awarded to artist Arnold Belkin. Artists such as Carmelo Arden Quin, José Gamarra, Carlos Alonso, Horacio García Rossi, Adolfo Patiño, Ever Astudillo, Roberto Fabelo, Omar Rayo, León Ferrari, Fernell Franco and Tomás Sánchez participated. 2nd Bienal de La Habana Director: Llilian Llanes Held in 1986, it sought a broader curatorial work and extended its scope including the presence of artists from Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Some 700 artists from 56 countries participated. The main objective of this edition was to position the event in the Third World. It also consolidated itself as a meeting place for "non-Western" artists. The artists awarded in this biennial were José Bedia Valdés, Carlos Capelán, Alberto Chissano, Jogen Chowdury, Joaquín Lavado (Quino), Lani Maestro, Manuel Mendive, Antonio Ole, Marta Palau, José Tola. 3rd Bienal de La Habana Subject: Tradition and Contemporaneity in the plastic arts and the Third World environment. Director: Llilian Llanes When the third edition of the event was held in 1989, it was decided to readjust the open character that characterized it in its foundational stage, implementing, from then on, a curatorial criterion under premises previously defined by the organizing