Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Ann Stock will address the annual American Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) Conference in New York City on Friday, January 7, at 1:00 p.m. During the plenary session, Culture in Diplomacy: A New Era for Arts & Cultural Relations, Assistant Secretary Stock will outline the Obama Administration’s efforts to use cultural diplomacy as an important foreign policy tool. Following her formal remarks, she will lead an interactive conversation with the Québec Minister of Culture, Communications and the Status of Women as well as the Chief Executive Officer of Cultural Ireland.

Assistant Secretary Stock’s remarks will be open to the public; media interested in covering Assistant Secretary Stock’s remarks are encouraged to RSVP to SergentRT@state.gov.

The plenary session will also be webcast live at https://statedept.connectsolutions.com/culturaldiplomacy, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Updates will also be available via Twitter at @AnnatState with the hashtag #culturaldiplomacy. Questions for the panel discussion may also be submitted via Twitter using #culturaldiplomacy.

During a special interest session on Saturday, January 8, staff representatives from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs will participate in a discussion regarding CenterStage^SM, a new and dynamic international exchange program. CenterStage^SM will bring international performing arts ensembles to the United States beginning in 2012. ECA and the New England Foundation for the Arts, will hold a discussion for APAP members who may be interested in hosting the international performers and learning more about this new public diplomacy effort.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) promotes international mutual understanding through a wide range of academic, cultural, private-sector, professional, and sports exchange programs. ECA exchanges engage youth, students, educators, artists, athletes, and emerging leaders in many fields in the United States and in more than 160 countries. Alumni of ECA exchanges comprise over one million people around the world, including more than 50 Nobel Laureates and more than 300 current or former heads of state and government.