Luz Machado (Ciudad BolÃÂvar, February 3, 1916 – August 11, 1999, pseudonym: ÃÂgata Cruz) was a Venezuelan political activist, journalist and poet. She founded the Circle of Venezuelan Writers (CÃÂrculo Escritores de Venezuela) and was a member of Bolivarian Society (Sociedad Bolivariana). She is a recipient of the National Prize for Literature.