The Fabrica de Arte (Cuban Art Factory and FAC by its Spanish acronym) was included in the 2019 TIME magazine list of the 100 World´s Greatest Places, an annual guide that praises innovation and originality of extraordinary destinations that offer visitors a unique experience.

The American magazine highlights the values of the project led by artist X Alfonso, and adds: “While many visitors to Cuba’s capital might gravitate to the candy-colored buildings and classic cars of Old Havana, it’s worth a trip to the city’s Vedado neighborhood to see FAC.¨

¨Created by Cuban rocker X Alfonso in 2014, the cooking-oil factory turned community project has quickly become the city’s buzzy creative hub with galleries, performance-art spaces and a dance floor, ¨ says the article.

¨As Havana prepares to celebrate its 500th anniversary this year, look to FAC to see its cultural future, ¨concludes the TIME notes.

On the inclusion of FAC in the famous list, X Alfonso declared: “It is unimaginable for the whole team and for me that our dear FAC is chosen among the 100 best places in the world. I think about the visibility that this news can generate for our artistic proposal, we have been offering a risky, less touristic and commercial look of Cuban culture for five years; a living place, a space of creative freedoms and experimentation. ”

He also said that “it is a prize to perseverance, the sense of belonging and daily sacrifice of the entire FacInBand. It is a great gift to all of us: artists, workers, visitors and art makers; and even for our country, especially in these times. This reaffirms and demonstrates that despite the great difficulties, needs and disadvantages we have, it can be done! And new ways of management are possible for our future.¨

For the making of this annual guide, TIME magazine requested nominations in a variety of categories - including museums, parks, restaurants and hotels - from its publishers and correspondents around the world, as well as from experts of this industry. Then they evaluated each one based on key factors, including quality, originality, sustainability, innovation and influence. The result is a guide of 100 places that features the most diverse spaces in the world, in more than thirty countries.