Cultural Diplomacy
As stated by The Soft Power 30 in their report, not long ago, museums were a form of hard power. They acted as safeguards of the spoils of war and conquest of mankind. It was a form of expression of the state hegemony and cultural diplomacy. However, the role of museums has gone through some changes in the past years.
Three ballet companies from different countries come together for an international performance.
The Festival of the Americas brings together the University of Iowa and Colombian students to learn from each other and grow as pianists. [...] The festival has new and returning students from two different cultures in which students learn from each other, not only about music but also about culture, like when one another normally eat, work, and practice.
Lambadi dance, one of the most popular tribal dances of South India, formed part of colorful presentations at the Tribal India fest in London recently. Organized by Red Lotus Events in association with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the Nehru Centre, and the High Commission of India, the three-day event had some of the most interesting tribal dances of Odisha, Gujarat, Assam and other States showcased, apart from handicrafts and other attributes displayed at various stalls.
The five-day event, aimed at showcasing music, culture, arts and wildlife, will be held from 20 to 24 September at Mapungubwe World Heritage Site, outside Musina. [...] The founder and director of the initiative, Makheda Khosa, said the festival aimed to increase exposure of Mapungubwe through fostering and nurturing the existing partnership between South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana through culture, heritage and music.
Theatre festivals, art exhibits and cultural exchanges are among this week's headlines.
More parts of the north-east will be dancing to an international beat this summer when a major festival spreads its influence further than ever. Musicians from 18 countries spread rights across the globe are due to arrive later this month as part of the Aberdeen International Youth Festival (AIYF).
The first ever opera festival in the Arab world debuted yesterday, and it took place in Amman. [...] In a statement to The Jordan Times, Barhoum said, “Throughout my career, I have been blessed to work with people from around the globe. Through my music and art, I have realized the importance of cross-cultural connections, and I have seen first-hand how music provides an important bridge that unites cultures from all over the world. With music, we speak one language; a language we can all understand without interpreters.”