Mural Arts Recap: Community Engagement through Art

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Mural arts exchange participants in Tegucigalpa take a group photo with American artist Michelle Angela Ortiz.
21 de Febrero
Honduran artist Walter teaches local youth how to prime the mural wall in 21 de Febrero, Tegucigalpa.

In 2013, Meridian partnered with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) to send mural artists abroad for the Community Engagement through the Mural Arts exchange program. While away, these artists were able to collaborate with local groups and artists in various community- based mural arts projects. Their goal: to create tangible pieces of artwork, while simultaneously fostering community engagement with the various populations of each country.

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“#SheBelieves”: Sports Diplomacy’s Ability to Empower Women Athletes Worldwide

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From The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State Website

American soccer fans cheered loudly Sunday night as the U.S. Women’s National Team defeated Japan in a 5 – 2 win, bringing the FIFA World Cup trophy home for the first time in 16 years. More than 20 million viewers tuned in to watch the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup championship match, shattering TV rating records for soccer in the process. In light of the work done here at Meridian International Center, this victory is also an opportunity to bring attention to the mission and goals of sports diplomacy: a way for the universal passion for sports to bring people of different linguistic and sociocultural backgrounds together. Utilizing sports diplomacy, the U.S. Department of State and its partners have expressed an active commitment to empowering women and girls in sports around the world.

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Soft Power: The Monthly Roundup (June edition)

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Featured projects last month happened in Azerbaijian, Canada, Chile, Russia, and the United Kingdom, among other locations.

With s’mores ingredients and charcoal prominently displayed in supermarkets across the United States, summer is definitely in full swing. The change of seasons comes with an increase in activity, so for this month’s edition of Soft Power, the Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy is showcasing eight events from around the globe that brought people together to encourage unexpected dialogue.

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The Romanian Blouse and the Many Forms of Cultural Diplomacy

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Marking the Universal Day of the Romanian Blouse in front of the White House. Photo by Cris Ianculescu.

Cultural diplomacy takes many shapes and forms. The forms and ornaments found on Romanian folk blouses, called “ia” (pronounced E – A), are just the latest and probably most unusual manifestation of what cultural diplomacy can be. Unbeknown to most, the Romanian blouse is truly an universal cultural icon. Worn by celebrities, part of cultural revolutions such as the hippie movement in the 60s, loved by famous fashion designers from around the world, and an inspiration for famous artists or movie characters, the Romanian Blouses trace their origins back to the ancient civilizations found along the Danube river thousands of years ago. They preserved a part of the language of...

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