International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy in the USA
"US Cultural Diplomacy in Practice: Building Cultural Bridges to Strengthen the Relationships between America and the Global Community"
(Washington D.C., June 23th - 24th; Baltimore, June 25th; & New York City, June 26th - 27th, 2014)
Symposium Overview
The USA is privileged to have one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse populations in the world, and therefore has a unique opportunity to create and implement cultural diplomacy based strategies that strengthen cross-cultural relationships. Serving as a hub of cultures from all corners of the world, the USA can use its cultural diversity as a resource to improve international relations and thus create real lasting benefits to its political, economic and cultural sectors. Indeed, cultural diplomacy has played a pivotal role in US Foreign Policy, demonstrated by examples such as the founding of the Fulbright Program in 1946, the employment of Jazz Ambassadors during the Cold War and the famous International Visitor Leadership Program launched by Nelson Rockefeller in 1940, which still brings many upcoming leaders from around the world to the United States every year. Through this comprehensive practice of cultural exchange and dialogue the USA has proven itself to be a pioneering country of cultural diplomacy.The International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy 2014 in the USA will present the importance of building cultural bridges for the benefits of US national security, economy, and well-being of American citizens, while illustrating the cost-effective advantages of such programs compared to other policy alternatives. The Symposium will bring together US legislators, representatives of the private sector and civil society as well as representatives from the international community to initiate joint-programs that will increase the volume of US engagement in cultural diplomacy. The Symposium will campaign for new programs, increased budgets and greater governmental attention of the unique opportunities practicing cultural diplomacy can bring. The Symposium will also publish a report based on the speeches and suggestions from all speakers and participants, which will be delivered to the US Congress, US Government policy and decision-makers as well as to the international community.
Symposium Speakers & Delegates »
Speakers and delegates during the symposium will include leading politicians, chief diplomats, leading governmental officials, senior academics, renowned authors, journalists, and celebrated artists. These speakers will include a large number of individuals from the ICD Advisory Board. To learn more about the ICD Advisory Board, please click here.Speakers and Delegates for the Symposium include:
 Hon. Craig KennedyFormer President, German Marshall Fund of the US |
 Hon. Alberto Gonzales80th United States Attorney General |
 Gov. Richard Bryan25th Governor of Nevada |
 Amb. Elena PoptodorovaAmbassador of Bulgaria to the US |
 Amb. Simona MiculescuAmbassador of Romania to the UN |
 Amb. Yuriy SergeyevAmbassador of Ukraine to the UN |
 Amb. Ib PetersenAmbassador of Denmark to the UN |
 Walter Pincus Journalist, Washington Post |
 H. E. Amb. Luis Carlos Villegas Ambassador of Colombia to the US |
Symposium Participants »
Participation in the conference is open to governmental & diplomatic officials, academics, artists, journalists, civil society practitioners, private sector representatives, young professionals and students as well as other interested individuals from across the world.If you would like to reserve a position and participate in the symposia, please click on the link below and fill out the online application form:
Symposium Locations
The International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy in the USA will take place in three major cities: Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and New York City. The conference will be hosted at a number of important political, historic, and cultural locations across the cities.Participant Papers »
The Academy for Cultural Diplomacy encourages academic research and analysis of issues related to the goals of the Symposia, and would therefore like to welcome participants to submit a paper they would like to be considered for delivery at the Symposium. Following the Symposium, the papers will be included in the proposal document that will be issued and sent to all governments and leaders of the international community. To read articles submitted by participants of our international conferences or to submit a paper please click here ».Certificate of Attendance
All Symposium participants will be awarded an official Certificate of Attendance upon completion of the program, which will provide details of the speakers who took part in the event, and list the topics which were discussed. Each certificate will be signed by members of the ICD Advisory Board.Sustainable Network »
During the program participants will have a number of opportunities to network with one another, with the speakers, and with ICD Advisory Board Members and partners. Conference participants will become part of the ICD Alumni, a growing international network of people of diverse interests and backgrounds from around the world who share a commitment to intercultural exchange. Members of the ICD Alumni Group will benefit from the following opportunities: Alumni online forum, Advisory Board Networking, ICD support for individual Leadership Initiatives, free access to all ICD research, videos and photos as well as other event documentation. Participants will be able to remain in touch with each other through the ICD Networks. (more »)
