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Mrs. Laura Bush today announced the “Global Cultural Initiative,” a
major new initiative of the U.S. Department of State to coordinate, enhance
and expand America’s cultural diplomacy efforts. In partnership with
public and private cultural entities, the Department will build upon the
vital work of government agencies and the broader cultural arts community
to emphasize the importance of the arts as a platform for international
engagement and dialogue. Federal funding for cultural exchange programs
has more than tripled since 2001 and this comprehensive initiative galvanizes
the strong commitment of the Administration and the Department to cultural
diplomacy.
While the Department of State has a rich history of
working with the cultural arts community in a project-specific
context, the Global Cultural Initiative represents
the first joining of forces by the public and private
sectors for lasting institutional collaboration. The
Department, through initial partnerships with the John
F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the American
Film Institute (AFI), the President’s Committee
on the Arts and Humanities (PCAH), the National Endowment
for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the
Humanities (NEH), and the Institute for Museum and
Library Services (IMLS), will leverage a broad range
of resources for a multi-faceted series of projects
designed to:
1. Connect foreign audiences with American artists
and art forms;
2. Share American expertise in arts management and
performance; and
3. Educate young people and adults in the United States
and abroad about the arts and cultures of other countries.
The Global Cultural Initiative begins with four key
partnerships:
1) The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing
Arts Partnership - This collaboration will draw upon the
strengths of both the Department of State and the Kennedy
Center to bring American culture and expertise to cultural
institutions and diverse public audiences around the
world. A series of projects will provide arts management,
performing arts and children’s theater training,
international arts festivals, education for children
and adults about the cultures of other countries, and
the introduction of U.S. artists and art forms to foreign
audiences. To highlight the American value of inclusiveness,
reaching people with disabilities will be emphasized
by working with the Kennedy Center affiliate VSA Arts,
to conduct programs with disabled artists in selected
countries.
2) The American Film Institute Partnership
- AFI PROJECT: 20/20: Through this international filmmaker and film
exchange, The American Film Institute, the Department
of State, the President’s Committee on the Arts
and the Humanities, the National Endowment for the
Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and
the Institute of Museum and Library will foster cross-cultural
understanding, promote appreciation of shared values
and diverse perspectives, and underscore the importance
of free expression in the creative process. Through
the AFI FEST in Los Angeles, international film festivals,
as well as other venues in the United States and abroad,
American and foreign filmmakers will share their films
with each other’s audiences to encourage intercultural
dialogue and engagement on universally shared issues
and values.
3) The National Endowment for the Arts Partnership
- International Literary Exchanges: Building upon the
National Endowment for the Arts’ poetry anthology
project with Mexico, the Department of State and the
NEA will establish International Literary Exchanges,
to establish literary translation projects and publications
between the United States and Pakistan, Russia, Austria
and other countries. The program will provide American
readers access to literary works from abroad and foreign
readers access to talented American writers and poets.
4) The National Endowment for the Humanities
Partnership - Landmarks of American History and Culture: Under
the National Endowment for the Humanities’ We
the People program, launched by President Bush in 2002,
the Department of State will promote deeper understanding
of the United States and American democratic principles
by welcoming international classroom teachers, educational
leaders, and representatives of cultural and educational
agencies to the one-week, NEH Landmarks Summer Institutes
for K-12 teachers. Through lectures, small-group discussion,
and experiential learning at historic sites, international
participants will explore alongside teachers from throughout
the United States the events and places that shaped
American history, and will have an opportunity to share
their experiences and perspectives with Americans.
Please direct media inquiries about this or other
programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs (http://exchanges.state.gov/) to Nicole Deaner,
202-203-7613, or Catherine Stearns, 202-203-5107.
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