Partner Institution
We envision a world where commerce and creativity are integrated to build strong and vibrant communities.
American Arts Academy
Where commerce and creativity come together to build strong and vibrant communities.
The American Arts Academy provides the learning opportunities and experiences needed to enable each student to become a critical thinker, problem solver, and responsible citizen as he or she develops an appreciation of the arts.
The Academy believes that a successful student in the 21st century will:
- Use the arts as a lens to see the world
- Use critical thinking and problem solving skills
- Show self-motivation and self-discipline
- Work cooperatively, while showing flexibility and adaptability
- Communicate well with others in a variety of ways
- Use technology as a tool
- Have been exposed to and tolerant of a wide variety of cultures and ideas
- Care about the community around them
Objectives
What we work towards
Strengthen government, business and creative industry roles and partnerships
Train and educate tomorrow's industry workforce today
Build creative industry infrastructure
Enhance funding and financial support
Market Brand Africa
Cultural Diplomacy Institute
What is cultural diplomacy?
Winning friends and influence through culture.
Cultural diplomacy is the exchange of ideas, information, art, and other aspects of culture among nations and their peoples in order to foster mutual understanding.
It is the best example of so-called soft power, i.e. the possibility of communicating, via the conduit of culture, values and ideas.
Cultural diplomacy implies the involvement of the instruments of government in the business of projecting a favourable image of a nation to the public (broadly defined) of other nations. Cultural diplomacy is the business of winning friends and influence through culture.
The Cultural Diplomacy Institute bridges the realms of international management and global governance, equipping students with the skills needed to navigate the complexities of our interconnected world. Through a blend of classroom seminars, professional trainings, and interactions with experts from various fields, students delve into international relations, economics, politics, and more.
- What are the main goals that African governments want to achieve through their cultural diplomacy activities?
- What image(s) of their culture do they aim to depict in this context? Which cultural assets (e.g. heritage and traditions, museum collections, contemporary creativity) are particularly suitable to embody these images?
- How does the strategy fit in Africa's foreign policy objectives, both in general terms and in the current political context?
- Which are the geographical priorities (e.g. EU, U.S., UK, Canada and other countries where diasporic communities are based) that will guide cultural diplomacy activities?
Programme
Speak Like Obama
The art of persuasion and the power of presentation.
President Barack Obama never fails to fire up a crowd. Whether he's addressing societal injustices or explaining complex policy decisions, Obama gains legions of enthusiastic supporters with every speech he makes.
Speak Like Obama and Win! is about the art of persuasion, the power of presentation, and the most effective techniques of communication. From building strong arguments and facing tough issues to inspiring a team or workforce to new levels of innovation and productivity, it gives you the tools to instil positive change at every level of your organisation.
- Make a strong first impression
- Communicate using body language
- Establish common ground with your audience
- Gain trust and confidence
- Convey your vision with imagery that resonates
- Build to a crescendo and leave a lasting impression