In Conversation: The Art of Cultural Diplomacy-smARTpower

Featuring Art Jones and Xaviera Simmons with Elizabeth Grady. Moderated by Ignacio Valero.

smARTpower^sm builds upon the Obama administration's vision of "smart power" diplomacy, which embraces the use of a full range of diplomatic tools, in this case visual arts, to bring people together and foster greater understanding. Administered by the Bronx Museum, smARTpower^sm, engages a diverse range of American visual artists to work with communities around the world to create community-based projects. The artists collaborate with local artists and young people in China, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, India, Kosovo, Lebanon, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Venezuela. Focusing on direct community engagement that encourages dialogue, experimentation, and creativity, this program is designed to stimulate discourse around local or global social issues including the environment, education, health, girls and women's issues, and freedom of expression.

Join artists Art Jones and Xaviera Simmons along with smARTpower^sm Program Manager Elizabeth Grady in a discussion about their Asia-based projects and the role of contemporary artists in cultural diplomatic efforts. Moderated by Ignacio Valero.

Lead funding for the Asian Art Museum's In Conversation Program is provided by W.L.S. Spencer Foundation, with additional support from Hotel Rex.