Publications

Highlights of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities Role in Expanding International Cultural Relations

PCAH Chairman Adair Margo led the largest U.S. cultural delegation to China in June. Here at the Children’s Palace she is joined by delegates, Marc Pachter (far left), Anne-Imelda Radice, (center); Bruce Cole (second from right) and PCAH Executive Director Henry Moran (far right).
PCAH Chairman Adair Margo led the largest U.S. cultural delegation to China in June. Here at the Children’s Palace she is joined by delegates, Marc Pachter (far left), Anne-Imelda Radice, (center); Bruce Cole (second from right) and PCAH Executive Director Henry Moran (far right).

2007
• The American Film Institute (AFI ) Project: 20/20 cultural exchange program, which is supported by PCAH, Department of State and the NEA, NEH and IMLS, closed out it first year with a three-city visit to China in late November. More than 4,000 people attended screenings in Beijing alone with another 900 participating in Hong Kong and several hundred in Shantou. During 2007, the program sent U.S. and foreign filmmakers to South Africa, Israel, Kuwait, Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Kazakhstan, as well St. Louis, Chicago, San Francisco, Tucson, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Washington, DC and Miami, Ohio.
• President's Committee Chairman Adair Margo led the first U.S. delegation of federal cultural officials to the People’s Republic of China in early June. The delegation included the cultural agency leaders from the NEA, NEH, and IMLS, as well as Dr. James Billington, the Librarian of Congress and Marc Pachter, Director, Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. Through a series of high-level and content-rich presentations in Shanghai, Xi’an, and Beijing, the delegation focused on expanding cultural relations between the U.S. and China. Head of China’s Ministry of Culture Sun Jiazheng hosted working sessions for the U.S. dignitaries, who also met wit State Councilor Chen Zhili. The culmination of these efforts was a new Implementing Accord for Cultural Cooperation, 2007-09 between the two governments, which will help spur plans for cooperation on cultural projects between these two countries.

PCAH Chairman Adair Margo (second from the left) signs a Sister Cultural Park agreement between World Heritage sites—Mesa Verde (US), Monte Alban (Mexico) and Paquime (Mexico).
PCAH Chairman Adair Margo (second from the left) signs a Sister Cultural Park agreement between World Heritage sites—Mesa Verde (US), Monte Alban (Mexico) and Paquime (Mexico).

• The Sister Cultural Parks meeting convened by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) brought together three World Heritage sites from the U.S. and Mexico, and representatives from culture, tourism, philanthropy, preservation and business to explore how to enhance cultural connections between these sites. The first Sister Cultural Park agreement was signed here between Mesa Verde National Park (U.S.), Paquime (Mexico) and Monte Alban (Mexico) and is the first result of the El Paso Cultural Communiqué.
• The El Paso meeting of the President’s Committee convened leaders from Mexico and Belize to focus on expanding cultural relations. The culmination of this meeting were two Cultural Communiqués, one with Mexico and another with Belize. Each of these documents provides a framework for leadership and cooperation to support new art, education, and preservation efforts across borders.
• Two Mexican youth at-risk programs were honored by Mrs. Laura Bush at Coming Up Taller program at the White House. Committee guests at the White House ceremony included Mr. Sergio Vela, the new President of Mexico’s Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (CONACULTA). Mexican Ambassador Carlos de Icaza hosts a celebratory lunch for the Coming Up Taller winners at the Cultural Institute of Mexico.

An exhibition of Mexican artist Miguel Covarrubias at Washington Mexican Cultural Institute
An exhibition of Mexican artist Miguel Covarrubias at Washington's Mexican Cultural Institute was supported by PCAH.


2006

• American Film Institute (AFI ) Project: 20/20 announced as component of State Department’s Global Cultural Initiative. Project 20/20 is an international cultural exchange designed to enhance mutual understanding by engaging U.S. and foreign audiences through filmmakers and their films. The program is an outgrowth of PCAH’s Los Angeles Popular Culture Symposium and partners together PCAH, NEH, NEA, IMLS, WESTAF, and the Department of State with AFI.
• With U.S. Mexican Embassy
•PCAH supports expanded tour by the Jose Limon Dance Company to Mazatlan, Mexico, Limon’s birthplace.
• PCAH supports expanded tour by the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, an American modern dance company with traditional Chinese roots. The company will tour Mexico for the first time, with stops including Tampico, Mante, Mier, and Rio Bravo.
• The People’s Republic of China extends a formal letter of invitation to PCAH to organize and lead the first U.S. Government cultural delegation to China in 2007.
• PCAH’s Symposium on Film, Television, Digital Media and Popular Culture focused on international collaboration and exchange, featuring U.S. Ambassador to UNESCO Louise Oliver and representatives from the American Film Institute, U.S. Department of State, University of Southern California – School of Film and Television, among others.
• Two Mexican youth at-risk programs honored at Coming Up Taller program at the White House. Mexican Ambassador Carlos de Icaza hosts a celebration for the Coming Up Taller winners at his residence.
• PCAH supports special international viewing and reception for Divine and Human: Women in Ancient Mexico and Peru, an exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.
• PCAH participates in launch of Connecting Lines/Lineas Conectadas, an NEA initiated two-volume bilingual anthology of contemporary poetry at Mexican Cultural Institute, Washington, DC, resulting from the PCAH 2003 Santa Fe meeting and discussions between U.S. and Mexican arts and humanities leaders.
• PCAH supports exhibition opening of Mexican Genius in the United States: Miguel Covarrubias at the Mexican Cultural Institute, Washington, DC.
• Chairman Margo and Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Director, Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), participate in the opening of Mexico’s new public library, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, in Mexico City.
• PCAH serves as co-host for U.S. National Commission for UNESCO at American Architectural Foundation’s Octagon House in Washington, D.C.

The PCAH has supported many performances by the Youth Orchestra of the Americas
The PCAH has supported many performances by the Youth Orchestra of the Americas in Mexico, U.S. and elsewhere.


2005
• With U.S. Mexican Embassy,
• PCAH supports tour of Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane dance company, including a performance and master classes at San Luis Potosi’s Art Festival.
• PCAH sponsors an exhibition and tour to regions beyond Mexico City of American photographer Edward C. Curtis.
• The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and PCAH host Afghanistan President Ahmed Karzai at the Smithsonian’s Freer Gallery of Art, during his visit focusing on Afghan culture and art.
• PCAH coordinates meeting among representatives of the Ministry of Culture, People’s Republic of China and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities, and Institute of Museum and Library Services to enhance cultural exchange.
• PCAH and the National Park Service convene a planning meeting on World Heritage sites to encourage exchange of expertise and ideas between parks in U.S., Belize and Mexico.
• Cultural Institute of Mexico’s major exhibition, Inverted Mirrors: Contemporary Mexican Art in the U.S. supported by PCAH.
• Youth Orchestra of the Americas performances and workshops along the U.S./Mexico border region made possible with PCAH funds.
• PCAH joins with National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Institute of Museum and Library Services in supporting on-going U.S. Government’s membership to International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA).
• PCAH sponsored Mexican and Chinese observers to attend National Summit on Cultural and Heritage Tourism, a PCAH partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce.
• Chairman Adair Margo, member of U.S. Delegation, attends the General Session of UNESCO, Paris.

PCAH worked closely with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico to expand opportunities for US arts groups to perform in Mexico
The President’s Committee worked closely with the US. Embassy in Mexcio to expand opportunities for U.S. arts groups to perform in Mexico.

2004
• U.S. Mexican Ambassador Antonio O. Garza, Sari Bermudez, head of the Mexican Council for Culture and the Arts, and PCAH Chairman Margo reach agreement on PCAH’s support for expanding U.S. Embassy supported cultural projects and tours.
• Under this new agreement, Ron Brown/Evidence, dance company tour is extended to state of Oaxaca.
• Huellas, a film on the Hispanic cultural influences on the U.S. and Mexico, a by product of the Santa Fe Joint Communiqué for Cultural Cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico, supported by PCAH.
• Chairman Adair Margo joins IMLS Director Robert Martin and NEH Chairman Bruce Cole at the Organization of American States Cultural Ministers’ meeting in Mexico City.
•Chairman Margo invited by the U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay to foster cultural relations and understanding between the U.S. and Uruguay.
• A Joint Communiqué for Cultural Cooperation is signed.
• Chairman Margo is appointed Member of the new U.S. National Commission for UNESCO.
• Youth Orchestra of the Americas performances supported by PCAH
• National Gallery of Art exhibition, Courtly Art of the Ancient Maya supported in part by the PCAH., a by product of the Santa Fe Joint Communiqué for Cultural Cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico.
• PCAH Committee member James Farmer attends the third annual International Day of Philosophy, UNESCO, in Paris with the Thelonius Monk Institute.
• Coming Up Taller awards presented by Mrs. Laura Bush.to two Mexican programs. 

2003
• Santa Fe Meeting: The President’s Committee convened cultural leaders from the U.S. and Mexico for the first time to focus on, in the words of Chairman Margo, “a shared cultural heritage, recognizing the unity and similarities among our cultures.” Leaders signed a Joint Communiqué for Cultural Cooperation.
• PCAH Chairman Adair Margo and member Mercedes Paz-Slimp participate in UNESCO’s Center for the Arts & Culture Conference on the Cultural Sector at the University of Texas, Austin.
• PCAH Honorary Chairman Mrs. Laura Bush leads U.S. delegation for re-entry into UNESCO. The delegation includes Chairman Margo and the agency heads from the NEA, NEH, and IMLS.
• UNESCO Representative Milagros del Coral, Sous-Director General Adjoint pour la Culture, addresses PCAH Committee members in Washington, D.C. • Coming Up Taller awards presented by Mrs. Laura Bush to two Mexican programs.

First Lady Laura Bush congratulates a Coming Up Taller winner from Mexico
First Lady Laura Bush congratulates a Coming Up Taller winner from Mexico.

2002
• PCAH Member Mercedes Paz-Slimp, leads U.S. delegation to OAS Cultural Ministers’ meeting in Cartegena, Colombia.
• The President’s Committee’s Coming Up Taller program makes its first youth arts and humanities learning awards to two Mexican projects with awards presented by First Lady Laura Bush.