Established in 1963, the U.S. Department of State’s Art in Embassies Program (AIEP) plays a vital role in American public diplomacy

Public diplomacy

In international relations, public diplomacy or people's diplomacy, broadly speaking, is the communication with foreign publics to establish a dialogue designed to inform and influence. There is no one definition of Public Diplomacy, and may be easier described than easily defined as definitions...

 through the creation of temporary exhibitions and permanent collections. AIEP produces temporary exhibitions of original works of art by American artists, on loan from a variety of sources, for the representational spaces of U.S. chief-of-mission residences (CMR’s) worldwide. Equally important is its commitment to create permanent collections for all newly built U.S. embassies, consulates, annexes, and AID buildings (Capital Projects), with a focus on contemporary art

Contemporary art

Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...

 and artists from the U.S. and host countries. Together, these temporary exhibitions and permanent collections provide international audiences with a sense of the quality, scope, and diversity of American and host country art and culture.

Creating an exhibition

ART's curatorial team develops thematic exhibitions in collaboration with each ambassador, taking into account the host country's artistic traditions and cultural mores. They recommend artists and works of art, negotiate all loans, and propose placement of the art within the embassy residences. After all loans are secured and the art insured, ART's registrars coordinate with professional art handlers for the assembly

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...

, packing

Packing

Packing may refer to:In Mechanical engineering:* Packing, also known as an O-ring or other type of Seal , a term for a sealing materialIn Chemical engineering:* Structured packing, i.e...

, crating and safe shipment of each exhibition to post. ART has about $4.5 million to spend each year for its permanent collections, though the collection is valued at many times that amount. Hundreds of prominent and accomplished artists have either donated or been commissioned to create art for the scores of new American embassies, consulates and residences worldwide, including Sol LeWitt

Sol LeWitt

Solomon "Sol" LeWitt was an American artist linked to various movements, including Conceptual art and Minimalism....

, Ellsworth Kelly

Ellsworth Kelly

Ellsworth Kelly is an American painter and sculptor associated with Hard-edge painting, Color Field painting and the Minimalist school. His works demonstrate unassuming techniques emphasizing the simplicity of form found similar to the work of John McLaughlin. Kelly often employs bright colors to...

, and Maya Lin

Maya Lin

Maya Ying Lin is an American artist who is known for her work in sculpture and landscape art. She is the designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.-Personal life:...

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Artist Exchanges / Residency Programs

Initiated in 2002, the American Artists Abroad program was created to extend ART In Embassies' exhibitions beyond the walls of US diplomatic residences into local communities. Participating American artists travel to countries where their work is exhibited and engage in a series of public cultural programming activities, such as lectures, workshops, and studio visits.