Havana - Artists and representatives of major cultural institutions in the United States today express an increasing interest in Cuban artistic expressions such as fine art, cinema and music.

According to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, David J. Skorton, his organization is very interested in collaborating with Cuba, which has a great cultural wealth.

"There are many young people involved in the arts in Cuba and their abilities and interests are very broad, so we want to build a stronger partnership," said the secretary of one of the largest museum groups in the world.

An event called Folklife Festival, where different cultures converge to break the barriers of geography, takes place each year in Washington. "It would be great to have Cuba invited to the event next year," he said.

Although the U.S. delegation currently visiting the island is focusing on art, Skorton does not rule out the idea of promoting exchanges, so that young people from both nations can study together in the future, especially science, culture and history.

Indian-American actor and producer, Kal Penn, known for his role in the series "House", hopes this trip is only the beginning of a relationship and a lasting exchange with the Cuban culture.

Meanwhile, six full-length feature films recently produced by the Cuban Film Institute (ICAIC) will be screened in coming months in the theaters of 10 U.S. cities.

According to ICAIC president, Roberto Smith, the history of the relationships between the two countries in the movie sector covers more than 100 years, but after 1959 and the US government´s blockade, collaboration suffered.

The members of the President´s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities of the United States of America also visited several cultural institutions of the capital, including the University of the Arts and the headquarters of La Colmenita theater company.