The arts and music envoy program sends american artists and arts experts of high artistic merit overseas in programs developed with U.S. Missions to achieve public diplomacy and foreign policy…

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs awarded a $3.01 million Cooperative Agreement to Meridian International Center for the Arts and Music Envoy Program, effective September 30, 2025, through December 31, 2027. Under this award, Meridian will administer a public diplomacy initiative that deploys American artists and arts experts of high artistic merit to overseas locations in coordination with U.S. Missions abroad. The program is designed to achieve U.S. public diplomacy and foreign policy objectives by facilitating cultural exchange and promoting mutual understanding between American and international audiences.

This award falls under the Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs—Citizen Exchanges (CFDA 19.415), which funds comprehensive international educational and cultural exchange initiatives administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. As the implementing partner, Meridian will manage core program logistics including artist recruitment and selection, program development coordinated with U.S. embassies, overseas placements, participant monitoring, and alumni engagement activities. The cooperative agreement structure indicates that Meridian will deliver both domestic administrative operations and international program implementation, consistent with the Bureau's standard approach of partnering with nonprofit organizations to advance U.S. foreign policy through people-to-people cultural engagement.

The arts and music envoy program sends american artists and arts experts of high artistic merit overseas in programs developed with U.S. Missions to achieve public diplomacy and foreign policy objectives.