By Natasha Hill, Event Coordinator, Meridian International CenterThis Article Was Originally Published in Instick Media Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan find themselves increasingly in a tug-of-war with three world superpowers: Russia, China, and now the United States increasingly desire influence in the region. Not since the fall of the Soviet Union and the need to neogtiate Kazakhstan’s relinquishing of its nuclear weapon aresenal has the Western world seemed so vested in Central Asia. Not only are world governments seemingly more interested in this region than before, but Central Asia’s tourism industry has seen an uptick in recent years. People are noticing...

  On this episode of cultureXchanges, Meridian’s CEO Ambassador Stuart Holliday speaks with artist Hank Willis Thomas on how growing up in Washington, DC shaped his artistic vision, the theme of universality in his work, and what politicians could learn from the world of art criticism. Thomas lives and works in Brooklyn, New York as a conceptual artist working on themes related to perspective, identity, commodity, media, and popular culture. His work has been exhibited throughout the United States and abroad including the International Center of Photography, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Hong Kong Arts Centre, the Witte de With Center...

On this episode of cultureXchanges, Meridian’s CEO Ambassador Stuart Holliday speaks with artist Jeff Koons to learn about his upbringing and the impact of his work on a global scale. Koons is one of the most well-known working artists today, with his large-scale sculptures and bold paintings touching on ideas of commodity, spectacle, and consumerism. His work belongs to the collections of The Broad, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Tate, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Koons has received numerous awards and honors in...

In a diverse, interconnected world, the relationship between cultures and civilizations has become increasingly prominent. Governments, institutions, and individuals are recognizing the significance of cultural understanding and collaboration to foster peace, promote global cooperation, and  strengthen ties between communities. This has given rise to the concept of cultural diplomacy. Defining Cultural Diplomacy Cultural diplomacy involves the active promotion and facilitation of exchange of ideas, values, traditions, and other aspects of culture or identity between nations and societies. It encompasses artistic, musical, literature, culinary, and additional cultural expressions to fortify relationships, enhance socio-cultural cooperation, and promote national interests. Cultural diplomacy...

When taco trucks first arrived in the United States in the 1970s as workers from Mexico migrated to California, the menus combined Mexican food with American tastes. Now, food trucks are used for almost any cuisine imaginable and have revolutionized the way food is sold throughout the United States; however, Mexican food trucks have not always been welcomed by local governments, the public, and the culinary world. Today on cultureXchanges, we are having an engaging conversation with scholar and filmmaker Dr. Robert D. Lemon on the contribution of Mexican food trucks to urban space, public policy, and American cuisine....