Spotlight on Soft Power: June 2016

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Mediterranean Youth Orchestra © Vincent Beaume

Festival d’Aix-en-Provence International Festival of Lyric Art Aix in June Aix-en-Provence, France June 4-26   The Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, International Festival of Lyric Art, is kicking off its 2016 celebration with a month long prelude of musical events called Aix en Juin/Aix in June. The Festival d’Aix takes place in its namesake, the town of Aix-en-Provence, France. The festival was founded as a response to the Second World War, when all of Europe was struggling to rebuild their infrastructure, culture and identity.  France responded by launching a string of arts festivals, such as the Cannes Film Festival in 1946, and the...

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Discovering Cuba Through Its Culture

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Art by Michel Mirabal.

Despite Cuba’s geographic proximity to the United States, historical circumstances have served to widen the distance between our two countries. As both nations begin to turn the page towards a future of greater closeness and cooperation, leaders from both sides of the straits are seeking ways to increase understanding and develop relationships between our countries. In April of 2016, led by Ambassador Stuart Holliday, a distinguished group of members of Meridian International Center’s Board of Trustees and other supporters, undertook a trip to Cuba. Consistent with Meridian’s mission to “understand global issues and cultures, exchange ideas, collaborate on solutions,...

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Spotlight on Soft Power: May 2016

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Flyer for 2016 Festival of Pacific Arts

12th Festival of Pacific Arts Guam, May 22nd — June 4th, 2016   “Håfa Iyo-ta, Håfa Guinahå-ta, Håfa Ta Påtte, Dinanña’ Sunidu Siha Giya Pasifiku” “What We Own, What We Have, What We Share, United Voices of the Pacific”   The Festival of the Pacific Arts (FoPA) has been held every four years since 1972, bringing together artists, performers, and craftsmen from around the Pacific region for two weeks of festivity. It is a major regional cultural event and meeting opportunity in the Pacific, uniting and celebrating its peoples and promoting mutual understanding. The 2016 edition will be hosted by Guam,...

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Exchange Programs and World Press Freedom Day

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Participants in the Media Literacy: Promoting Civil Society through New Media program at the Foreign Press Center in New York. Photo credit: Brittany Lynk

Every 3rd of May, the world celebrates World Press Freedom Day to evaluate the freedom of journalists worldwide and to defend attacks on media. In 1993, the UN General Assembly proclaimed this date to act as a reminder for governments to respect their commitment to press freedom and for media professionals to reflect upon ethical issues in their field. Thousands of journalists, writers, activists and leaders recognize World Press Freedom Day as a way to address the main challenges concerning the freedom of information. Meridian’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) visitors address this subject matter by engaging in the power of international exchange through different experiences and ideas. Continue  

Visitors from Japan will explore U.S. trends in energy and environmental regulations

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Shigeki Kagiwada, Assistant Director for International Affairs in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan meets with U.S. Congressman Marsha Blackburn prior to Prime Minister Abe's address to Congress.

Welcome 2016 participants

Kazutaka Nakagawa and Mitsuo Nagai will begin their year-long Global Government-to-Government Partnership (G3P) this month. Following an introductory tour of U.S. economic revitalization efforts in Greensboro, NC, Cincinnati, OH and Portland, OR, the two participants will immerse themselves in English-language training. These initial activities prepare them for individualized research projects, which are the capstone of the program.

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