The U.S. Department of State announced that Indonesian performance artists Nan Jombang will travel to communities across America as part of a groundbreaking cultural diplomacy initiative, Center StageSM, from September 21-October 14, 2012.

Curated by Quddus Mirza, artist, art critic and professor of art, the exhibition features more than 160 pieces of art created by 65 Pakistani artists, in a tribute to Rohtas Gallery and its contribution to the development of contemporary art and artists in Pakistan.

An exhibition entitled “Vietnamese Contemporary Art: The Colours of Vietnam” is now on show at the Washington Arts Club in the USA. The 30 paintings by seven artists depict Vietnam from its struggle for national independence to its current stage of development, offering the American audience a broad view of daily life in the country including family love, beautiful Vietnamese women in ao dai (traditional long dress) and changes in the capital city of Hanoi.

Following the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, the Smithsonian Institution began a program to recover and restore artworks marred in the disaster. Now the Yale Center for British Art is hoping to create a cultural exchange program to teach Haitian artists restoration techniques that the artists can apply to damaged works in their home country.

During our panel discussion in Charlotte on the future of arts and arts education in America, former Secretary of State Madeline Albright spoke about cultural diplomacy, a critical foreign policy tool. She also noted how the arts helped shape international political dialogue both formally through U.S.-sponsored jazz and dance and other art forms, and informally by every day actions.

The U.S Department of State announced today that the Papermoon Puppet Theatre will travel from Yogyakarta, Indonesia, to communities across America September 5-October 1, 2012 as part of its Center StageSM initiative

The Chinese and Foreign Culture Week features three themed art exhibitions, namely "Height" – 2012 Xinjiang 1st Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan Fine Arts Exhibition, Datang City Colourful Painted Silk Road Art Exhibition, and includes three themed professional performances.

The 29th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering will host butteri, cowboys from Italy, who have their own unique poetry, music, gear and traditional techniques, but still have much in common with their counterparts in the American West and cattle cultures across the globe.