Soft Power: The Monthly Roundup (February Edition)

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This month features a food industry-themed exhibit, an African film festival, Iranian Jazz and the beauty of diversity.

This is the seventh installment of the Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy’s Soft Power: The Monthly Roundup, a compilation of unique cultural diplomacy initiatives from around the globe. We’re excited to share with you these seven cultural diplomacy efforts from the past month: 1. Latin America: A Peak into Contemporary Art Zona MACO – Latin America’s most important contemporary art fair – brought collectors, specialists, and galleries from every part of the world together in Mexico City from February 3rd-7th. Founded by Zélika García in 2002, Zona Maco has established itself as one of the most notable platforms for selling,...

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Firecrackers, Food, Family, and Fun: Why I Love Lunar New Year

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2015 is the Year of the Goat.

Lunar New Year (LNY) is an extremely special and important time in Chinese culture. Families gather round for bountiful meals, and children anticipate red envelopes filled with cash. In the streets, fire crackers are set off, and festive red and gold decorations complement the lion dances and parades. LNY lasts for the first 15 days of the Chinese lunar calendar, and this year, festivities begin on February 19th. While LNY is filled with fun and games, there is actually a lot of preparation and work done for the holiday.

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The Arts and Culture Scene in the United Arab Emirates, Part I: Events

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An overview of the arts and culture events happening in the United Arab Emirates.

This blog post was inspired by Past Forward: Contemporary Art from the Emirates – the first major touring exhibition of Emirati artwork abroad. The exhibition showcases core elements of life in the UAE, further informing American audiences of Emirati art, history, and tradition. Visitors who have seen Past Forward may not be aware of the wide range of cultural events the UAE organizes during its winter season, from October to the end of April. This post highlights a number of the most popular arts and cultural events in the country – many scheduled for this spring. Abu Dhabi Abu...

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