Hebert Poll Gutiérrez, Arts Curator
Hebert Poll Gutiérrez is a Cuban Canadian playwright, poet, author, and storyteller based in Calgary. With more than 21 years of professional experience, his work spans theatre, poetry, storytelling, film, puppetry, and music, exploring culture, identity, migration, belonging, social justice, and everyday life.
As an Afro-Cuban artist, Hebert’s work is deeply connected to Cuba’s cultural memory, oral traditions, stories, rhythms, and the lived experiences of its Black communities. His creative practice explores Afro-Cuban identity, heritage, migration, displacement, and belonging, while creating space for conversations about history, dignity, and social justice.
He is the author of 10 books and has presented his work in Canada and internationally. His publications include
Confessions of a Quixote Without a Homeland (poetry, Latido Inquieto Editions, USA, 2026)
Licensed to Kill (theatre, Latido Inquieto Editions, USA, 2026)
The Last Planet Standing (theatre, Letra de Kmbio Publishers, France, 2026)
Whispers from the Black Gods (poetry, The Elite Lizzard Publishing Company, Ontario, 2022)
His poetry also appears in The Tree and the Frost: A Collection of Cuban Canadian Authors (Cristálida Ediciones, Montreal, 2026).
He is currently a selected playwright in the Chromatic Playwrights Unit 2026-2027, a playwright development program presented by Chromatic Theatre in Calgary.
Hebert is an active member of several national and international arts organizations, reflecting his multidisciplinary practice across theatre, puppetry, storytelling, and literature.
UNIMA Canada — International Union of Puppetry
ASSITEJ International — International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People, with memberships in Cuba and Canada
Playwrights Guild of Canada
Storytellers of Canada
SpanicArts Calgary
In 2021, Hebert was named Artist of the Month by the Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation (ICAI).
With a background in Social Communication, cultural project management, and recreation leadership, he believes that meaningful work begins with people. He creates warm, welcoming spaces where stories are shared, cultures meet, and people can connect, create, and feel a sense of belonging.
SOCIAL MEDIA
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hebert-poll-gutierrez-582a392a8
https://www.instagram.com/hebertpoll/
https://www.facebook.com/hebert.pollgutierrez.5