Grammy Award-winning pianist and New Yorker Arturo O'Farill, who leads the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, is profiled in this week's Village Voice article on cultural exchange between Cuba and the US, Bringing Chico Home. Arturo is the son of Chico O'Farrill, the late Cuban-born composer, arranger and bandleader and New Yorker. The article describes the difficulties Cuban and American musicians have faced when attempting to travel between the countries since the U.S. embargo of Cuba began in 1961. Arturo O'Farrill performed at the Havana International Jazz Plaza Festival in December 2010.

Addressing the issue of cultural diplomacy at the Alliance for the Arts' Arts Forum at the TimesCenter on March 7 are Margaret Ayers, president of the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation (a major sponsor of New York City's upcoming ¡Si Cuba! Festival ) and Marjorie A. Ames, division chief, Cultural Programs, US Department of State, among other speakers.