The Arts and Culture Scene in the United Arab Emirates, Part II: Cultural Organizations

Posted under: MCCD By /

The second blog in this series focuses on museums and galleries 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. Our previous post featured art events in the UAE.

This post highlights a number of museums and galleries that play a vital role in shaping and advancing the arts and culture in the UAE. While some museums are still in their construction phase, many would agree that these bold projects place the country on the global art map.

Continue  

Foreign Policy Matters: How Diplomacy Impacts Americans

Posted under: Center for Global Leadership By /

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Duckenfield launches the Foreign Policy Matters initiative along with Dr. Carla Freeman and me.

“Foreign Policy” – the term itself sounds like an intangible, rigid set of rules and regulations by which governments, ambassadors, and other high-level officials abide. Distant and far removed from everyday life, and sometimes, foreign policy can seem to be just that – especially with the closed door discussions that characterize much of the field. At best, the public only sees these high-level diplomatic meetings, summits, and conferences in the media; at worst, they see cocktail receptions and junkets. Regardless, they very rarely feel as if they participate directly. The fact is nothing could be further from the truth....

Continue  

How can you help an Entrepreneur?

Posted under: Center for Global Leadership By /

By Safa Hajjaj – Entrepreneur, Atlas Corps Fellow at Meridian International Center from Morocco @safahajjaj   First some introductions are in order. Safa Hajjaj joined Meridian in September 2014 as an Atlas Corps Fellow to serve as Curriculum Developer in the GlobalConnect Division and help develop Meridian’s Training. In this capacity she assists with International exchange programs, especially with those related to entrepreneurship and social action planning for both youth and professionals. Prior to joining Meridian, Safa served for over five years in the non-profit sector, mainly with the Junior Chamber International (JCI), as the elected President of her...

Continue  

Back in Bluefields: The Last Part of my Nicaragua Murals Exchange

Posted under: MCCD By /

Participants in Bluefields adding color to their community cultural center.

A month later, in the chilly northern U.S. while anxiously awaiting signs of spring, I look back on my notes to try and give a clear notion of what went on in the last portion of my Nicaragua journey, the Community Engagement through the Mural Arts exchange, in Bluefields. Below is my attempt to do just that. The first day of the Bluefields project we met at the Pelikan restaurant overlooking the sea. The view was expansive and big swooping pelicans gobbled up their fish as I perused the menu and met my last group of collaborators. After lunch we...

Continue