On June 26, 2014, Meridian convened diplomats, policy makers and leaders from the arts and cultural communities for a conversation on Cultural Diplomacy at the Forefront: Views from Around the Globe.  Ambassador Stuart Holliday, Meridian’s President and CEO, opened the event before welcoming The Honorable Evan Ryan, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, to share remarks on the importance of cultural diplomacy as a critical tool of public diplomacy. Assistant Secretary Ryan outlined how the U.S. State Department utilizes cultural diplomacy to promote dialogue and strengthen people-to-people relations around the world. She stated, “Sharing one’s culture,...