U.S. art buyers splurge at Havana fund-raiser

VIDEO CNN's Lucia Newman reports why U.S. citizens traveled to Cuba for the auction Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

HAVANA, Cuba (CNN) -- It was an event that brought art and charity together -- and U.S. citizens and Cubans.

Art collectors, gallery owners and critics from the United States attended a recent auction of Cuban artwork -- in Havana, a country that has long been off limits to U.S. citizens.

More than 70 Cuban artists donated their works to raise money to buy cancer medicine from the United States for Cuban children. The medicine is to be delivered to the Oncology Hospital in Havana.

U.S. interest in Cuban art has increased in recent years. So has the willingness to pay high prices.

Three of the 82 art works sold for more than $10,000, a large amount of money considering the U.S. government has traditionally imposed a $200-per-day spending limit on U.S. citizens licensed to do business in Cuba.

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