Cultural Diplomacy

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.”

A New York theatre venue is hosting nine prominent playwrights from Georgia for a festival premiering their plays within the ongoing Georgian-American Theatre Feast in the city. [...] The Georgian-American Theatre Feast is the latest event run by Red Lab Productions, an international collective with focus on holding performance arts events in promotion of cultural diplomacy.

The exhibition "Splendid world of Indian textiles" will kick off in Bishkek today at 4:00 pm local time, the Embassy of India reports. [...] The exhibition is arranged by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and organized by the Embassy of India, Bishkek and Ministry of Culture of the Kyrgyz Republic, jointly with Altyn Taj (India – Kyrgyzstan Friendship Society).

A Te Arawa cultural group will perform in front hundreds of thousands of people at two festivals in Korea this week. Then in December, Korean cultural performers will take the stage at Rotorua's first Mudtopia Festival. Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry said the two cultural exchanges would have cultural and economic benefits for both countries.

Cultural diplomacy is a tricky business and the same was certainly true in 1977 when the Arab British Centre (ABC) was set up. The aim of the London-based organization was to improve understanding of the Arab world in the UK through political lobbying and cultural programmes.

Indonesia will conduct cultural diplomacy at Europalia, Europe largest art and cultural festival to be held from October 10, 2017, to January 21, 2018. [...] The Europalia International is optimistic that the participation of Indonesians in the festival would strengthen relations between Indonesia and the European countries and also enhance mutual understanding among the people.

The first group of 24 teachers, students, as well as activists from senior high schools, colleges and NGOs in Moscow, Russia have arrived in Jakarta to join the activities of Indonesian Competency Enhancement. [...] Ambassador Wahid believes that cultural diplomacy activities like this can be developed because it will help make ties of the two countries closer.

This week's PD News roundup celebrates diversity in cultural diplomacy.

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