The Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy

The Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy is the leading center in the United States that employs the arts and culture as a tool of diplomacy and cross-cultural understanding. The Center collaborates with embassies, governments and the private sector to curate cultural diplomacy exhibitions, exchanges and programs in Washington, D.C. and worldwide.

Meridian views arts and culture as diplomacy tools to connect people worldwide and bridge divides. We work in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, our American embassies abroad, as well as the diplomatic community here in Washington, D.C. to develop and curate exhibitions, exchanges and programs that range from film screening to mural arts programs to hip-hop music performances. Our programs have reached millions in more than 260 cities in 60 countries worldwide. We recently formed a Cultural Diplomacy Leadership Council, a platform and network that brings together cultural leaders from the top cultural institutions, including the Kennedy Center, Smithsonian Institution and National Geographic, to strengthen the role of arts and culture in diplomacy. During rising global tensions, these programs are essential to bring cultures together through shared interests, create positive impressions of the United States and help dispel common misperceptions.

CULTUREFIX AND THE MERIDIAN CULTURAL DIPLOMACY AWARDS

WATCH THE 2024 MORNING CONVERSATIONS NOW

Culturefix is Meridian's annual cultural diplomacy celebration to honor the power of the arts and culture to help fix global challenges faced by people, communities, and the planet. The hybrid program features morning conversations at the intersection of diplomacy, culture, and the arts, with an evening awards show and dinner showcasing the Meridian Cultural Diplomacy Awards and special performances.

The Meridian Cultural Diplomacy Awards are bestowed on artists and cultural leaders who demonstrate an ongoing commitment to using the arts and culture to unite people in the United States and worldwide and contribute to greater international cooperation on shared global challenges.

About the Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy

The Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy's exhibitions and our cultural exchanges, ranging from murals to hip hop to theatre arts, create impactful and positive impressions of the United States that are more important than ever to bolster our country’s global engagement. These exhibitions have reached millions in more than 310 cities in 79 countries worldwide.

The Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy is the U.S. Department of State’s trusted partner in reaching audiences through cultural diplomacy activities while enhancing U.S. public diplomacy efforts and national interests abroad. One of its most extensive programs for the State Department is Next Level, a hip-hop diplomacy exchange program managed in partnership with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It has brought over 130 U.S. hip-hop artists to 36 countries to work with over 2,300 international participants. The Center also supports the diplomatic community and private sector through customized exchanges, cultural programs, and content development projects to allow American audiences to learn more about other cultures. For ways to engage with this meaningful work, please visit www.meridian.org.