The Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy Bern is pleased to announce an open competition for past participants (“alumni”) of U.S. government-funded and U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to submit applications to the 2023 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2023). We seek proposals from teams of at least two alumni that meet all program eligibility …
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To celebrate Black History Month and this year’s topic of “The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity,” members of the Embassy are reading their favourite, family-related poem by an African American author. Langston Hughes: “Mother to Son” Lucille Clifton: “won’t you celebrate with me” We are using the poem, which was published in The Book …
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Black women in the arts have long formed the backbone of America’s cultural landscape. As Americans were reminded at President Biden’s inauguration, young Black artists such as poet Amanda Gorman are emerging and sharing their vision for the future with the world. For Black History Month , we look at past and present defining figures in music, literature and the …
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Attention budding Swiss and Liechtensteiner songwriters!! The U.S. Embassy in Bern is delighted to announce a five-day virtual songwriting workshop led by professional musician and Arts Envoy, Derik Nelson. This unique, week-long event will offer something to beginning and experienced musicians alike. The first lesson kicks off Monday evening 30 November at 6pm. For 5 …
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2020 marks the 80th anniversary of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) , the Department of State’s premier professional exchange initiative for emerging leaders. The short-term visits foster mutual understanding and develop cultural and professional connections. The program has over 225,000 alumni worldwide, including more than 300 Swiss alumni including Swiss Federal Councilors Simonetta Sommaruga and Karin Keller-Sutter; State Councilor Christian …
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For #WorldBookDay on April 23, we asked our colleagues at the Embassy for their favorite book written by an American author. If you would like to know why the books were chosen, scroll down or click on the book title to read the comments. We hope this list inspires you for some great stay-at-home-reading!
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Nearly 70 years ago, the Museum of Modern Art first envisioned a worldwide U.S. arts program. It was President John F. Kennedy who, a decade later, established the Art in Embassies program at the U.S. Department of State. Now, the Art in Embassies program consists of over 200 permanent and temporary art exhibitions in U.S. …
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In October 2018, Marion Schleifer, a freelance software developer and community organizer from Switzerland, participated in the three-week IVLP exchange program #HiddenNoMore designed by the U.S. Department of State. The award-winning film Hidden Figures inspired viewers across the world as well as an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) that brought 50 women leaders who represent “hidden …
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We visited the Ballet School Theater Basel and got an in depth look at ballet education in Switzerland. Our host was the Texas-born director of the school, Amanda Bennett. Basel has played an important role in Amanda’s career. From 1978 to 1989, she fascinated audiences as the principal dancer under the leadership of Heinz Spoerli. Since 2001, she has …
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The U.S. Embassy Bern was happy to host the American violinist Gaelynn Lea from June 12 until June 21, 2018. She visited Switzerland as part of the State Department’s Arts Envoy Program. During her stay, Gaelynn met with several high school classes from Bern and Aargau and more than 100 students from the International School …
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For the opening of Art Basel 2018, Ambassaor McMullen gave a welcome address at a reception for representatives from Miami Beach at the City Hall in Basel. The Canton of Basel-Stadt has long-standing ties to the United States. In 2002, the Art Basel took place in Miami Beach for the first time, which established an ongoing …
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April 26, 2018, marks the 18th annual celebration of World Intellectual Property (IP) Day. Intellectual property underpins nearly every aspect of the economy – it supports good paying jobs, creativity in the arts, innovation in sciences and technology, and it creates a framework that allows new industries and innovations to flourish. Every year, we celebrate …
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On June 11, Chargé d’Affaires Tara Feret Erath attended a panel discussion and Ramadan iftar at the House of Religions in Bern. The dialogue focused on building bridges and combatting fear; the first panel included student representatives who shared their experiences with both stereotypes and acceptance, while the second panel included religious leaders who highlighted …
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Adam Johnson, 2013 Pulitzer Prize winner for his novel The Orphan Master’s Son, was in Bern from May 22-23. On invitation from U.S. Embassy Bern, Johnson was the guest of honor in a fireside chat about his approach to writing The Orphan Master’s Son, a novel set in North Korea following the life of orphan and …
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With the support of the U.S. Embassy in Bern, Lebanese-American artist Helen Zughaib will be in Switzerland June 12-16. A painter whose work has been shown in multiple exhibitions all over the world, Zughaib maintains that art is one of the most important tools we have to help shape and foster dialogue among people from …
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Adam Johnson, 2013 Pulitzer Prize winner for his novel The Orphan Master’s Son, will be in Bern May 22-23. He will give several talks focusing on his approach to writing and on The Orphan Master’s Son, a novel set in North Korea following the life of orphan and model citizen Pak Jun Do. Adam Johnson is …
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By Christopher Connell – Share America (April 10, 2017) Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (Jazz at Lincoln Center/Frank Stewart) Rock, rap and hip-hop may rule the charts, but jazz, with roots in the spirituals of African-American slaves, is still America’s gift to the world. “There is no better example of democracy than a jazz ensemble: …
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Join Us on March 21, 2017 at 18:00 at the Bubenberg Cinema in Bern! In France, Canada, Switzerland and many other countries people speak French, but did you know that there is a French-speaking community in the United States too? You can learn something about the Cajun culture and community, mainly found in Louisiana, …
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On May 24, 2016, Ambassador LeVine and her husband, Eric, traveled to Zurich to meet with members of the Zurich Cantonal Government and talk about the growth of Swiss start-ups. While there, they also met with the South Pole Group to learn more about how the private sector can help reduce carbon emissions. Later, the …
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On November 27, 2015, Deputy Chief in Mission Jeffrey R. Cellars addressed Swiss students who participated in the Latin translation contest «Certamen Translatorium». The contest takes place every year during Latin a cultural month organized by the Society IXber St. Gallen. The program theme for this year was Latin-America — not the geographic Latin America, …
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On February 26, 2015, Deputy Chief of Mission Jeffrey Cellars addressed the audience of the Jazzwerkstatt Bern before a concert of the HKB Large Ensemble. In his remarks, he pointed out the international importance jazz has gained since its emergence at the beginning of the 20th century: “Like no other music genre, Jazz has traveled around …
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The U.S. Embassy Bern, in cooperation with the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, announced the opening of a competition for Swiss artists on the theme of the intersection between art, science, technology and the environment. The selected works will be displayed as part of the collection currently on show at the Residence of Suzan G. …
Read More» On Tuesday, July 15, Ambassador LeVine hosted a discussion led by Professor David Johnson, author of the book The Lavender Scare. The book describes the little know period in U.S. history when gay and lesbian employees of the Federal government were forced to resign or were fired in great numbers. The “Lavender Scare” in the …
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