Research, Ideas, and Support for the Arts in a Global Society
In this China series, I began with the premise that an American orchestra’s trip to China could make an impact on both the American musicians and the Chinese audiences they performed for. In Part II, I’d like to share with you some findings to bolster that claim and some interesting data shared from our traveling […]
As spring arrives in waves of sunshine and warmer weather, we’re celebrating the activities of arts diplomacy initiatives worldwide with Arts Diplomacy Month. It may be new in title, but the idea is age-old: People using the arts to connect, to communicate, and to empower ideas. With that, Arts Diplomacy Network is here to bring […]
American Voices was selected by the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy as a “Top Ten Best Practices Organization.” AV Founder and Executive Director John Ferguson recently answered my questions regarding the nonprofit’s arts-based cultural diplomacy work abroad.
There is much about art that’s lost when it’s defined by its social benefit or economic impact for the purposes of public funding. But some of the new avenues of research opened by arts managers’ responses to the current financial crisis can also be used to assess cultural diplomacy’s outcomes. Evaluating social benefits and economic impact of cultural diplomacy efforts would better communicate the value of these programs to stakeholders at home and abroad.
Sound advice from clarinetist and musical ambassador Marcus Eley: “Remember whatever you do or say will be perceived as a view from America. Always smile. Finally, concentrate on the one element that transcends language – music.”
