Embassy of the United States Monrovia, Liberia

The U.S. Embassy in Monrovia works with the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs on a variety of cultural exchange programs that utilize the performing arts to reach out to diverse audiences. These cultural programs bring American performers to Liberia to share U.S. art, culture and values, while giving Americans a chance to learn about Liberian culture. 

In July 2011, the Embassy secured support from the Performing Arts Initiative to bring the Jazz and Democracy Project® (J&D) to Liberia. J&D's founder and a trio of American jazz musicians hosted a series of Jazz and Democracy® workshops for youth leaders, middle school and high school students. Workshops introduced students to the 12-bar blues and used jazz as a metaphor to bring democracy to life. J&D conducted a jazz history and theory workshop for local music students. The J&D jazz trio also performed at the Embassy’s Independence Day Celebration, Agape National Academy of Music’s Inaugural Independence Concert, and for local staff.

In addition, the group Turning Pointe, a contemporary gospel quartet touring West Africa with the Rhythm Road program, visited Liberia in October 2010. The group performed at Monrovia City Hall and the University of Liberia; met with local gospel artists and music students; and explored Liberian traditional music and cultural performances.

Performing Arts Initiative

The Performing Arts Initiative provides financial support to U.S. Embassies for presentations of American performing art and artists. They are an important way to foster goodwill, engage foreign audiences and provide insight into American culture and values. Proposals submitted by U.S. Embassies are competitively reviewed, and projects are selected twice annually. In an effort to engage diverse audiences, Embassies arrange performance opportunities for artists at a variety of venues including local universities, primary schools, town squares, and concert halls. Every effort is made to ensure that artists reach a range of venues within the host country and that their performances are not limited to one or two major cities. In this way, artists reach audiences that may not otherwise have the opportunity to meet and experience American performers. In addition to performing, artists conduct educational programs, workshops, lectures, and participate in informal jam sessions with local musicians.

Rhythm Road

The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad program is a partnership between Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) and the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. In the tradition of the original Jazz Ambassadors program that sent music legends Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong and Dave Brubeck on world tours during the Cold War era, Rhythm Road brings American culture to audiences around the globe through person-to-person exchanges.

The musicians' engagement with foreign audiences through workshops, master classes and jam sessions presents a positive image of the United States and provides a greater understanding of our society. The artists themselves deepen their knowledge of other cultures, enhance their creativity and feel the pride of representing their country.