Building bridges through cultural diplomacy

Societies have engaged in cultural diplomacy for centuries. The ancient network of trade routes connecting Asia, the Middle East and Europe known as the Silk Road fostered the exchange of language, religion, art, political structures and ideas. Today, Yo-Yo Ma’s Silkroad Ensemble of musicians, currently in residence at Rice University, embodies this concept through their global musical and educational collaborations.

The Ensemble opened a special event highlighting the unifying power of culture and the arts in a complex and often fragmented world. The performance was followed by a discussion between artists, cultural leaders and a former director of the Art in Embassies program on the increasingly important role of culture in diplomatic discourse.

This event was co-sponsored by the Baker Institute, Moody Center for the Arts, Boniuk Institute for Religious Tolerance and Silkroad. Funding for this program was generously provided by the June B. and Bryan J. Zwan Visiting Distinguished Scholar Endowment.

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