Since its inception in 2007, Art Trek V has carved a place for itself in Singapore's annual arts calendar, while serving as the centerpiece of the Embassy's cultural diplomacy program.

U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Bronx Museum of the Arts launched smARTpowerSM., a new initiative that sends 15 American artists and collaborative artist teams to 15 countries worldwide to engage in people-to-people diplomacy through the visual arts.

European comic fans will be able to enjoy a wide selection of original Taiwanese animation at an upcoming festival in France, the Government Information Office (GIO) said at a press conference Wednesday.

From the very beginning of the revolution, street art and artists played a significant role in the protests...perhaps the uncensored, tongue-in-cheek, political commentary of Ganzeer and other street artists is just what is called for to help Egyptians make sense of the new world they live in — and their ability to make a mark on it.

The government also hopes that raising the profile of local designers will help increase the country’s soft power, says Tony Chang (張光民), chief executive officer of the ministry-backed Taiwan Design Center, which was set up to promote the local design industry.

These programmes will showcase the rich and diverse artistic and cultural productions; highlight the multidisciplinary nature of the field of performing arts... foster cultural vitality and unleash talent; promote cultural tourism; and enhance cultural diplomacy.

About 750 foreign students from 73 countries received scholarships from the Indonesian government to study Indonesian culture, arts and language at universities across the country...the program, launched in 1974, was among Indonesia's cultural diplomacy programs aimed at promoting Indonesian cultures to the rest of the world.

With the emergence of a Chinese middle class, and the increasing liberalisation of public expression in various parts of South East Asia, we find ourselves entering into an era of what could, and should, be increasing cultural exchange with our immediate neighbourhood.