In recognition of Open World's success in bringing thousands of Russia's emerging political and civic leaders to the United States on high-level professional exchanges, the U.S. Congress recently expanded the program to include Russia's cultural leaders. The first delegates under the new cultural leaders initiative will arrive in Washington, DC, on November 5, 2003. In all, 56 cultural leaders will travel to the United States in 2003, including visual and performing artists, library managers from cultural institutions, museum and theater directors, and regional ministry of culture representatives.

As with the civic Open World Program, the Open World cultural program aims to forge better understanding between America and Russia. "Linking our two countries more closely through our cultural institutions reinforces the deep artistic ties between our two countries," stated Dr. James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress and Chairman of the Open World Leadership Center Board of Trustees. "Irving Berlin emigrated from Russia to the U.S. as a young boy, and Igor Stravinsky, an innovator of modern music, as a young man. Joseph Brodsky and Vasily Aksyonov continued to enrich the great literary tradition of Russia while living as emigres in America, and many great Russian dancers, musicians, scholars, and scientists have enjoyed distinguished careers in both countries. As we welcome Open World's first cultural leaders delegations to Washington, D.C., we hope that this promising new exchange between our two countries will strengthen and deepen cultural ties built over many years."

The new initiative gives Russian cultural leaders unique opportunities to observe the operations of American cultural institutions, while sharing their expertise with their U.S. hosts. Visits will last three weeks, compared to 10 days for the civic program. The extended stays are designed to provide adequate time for the Russians to learn about how arts organizations are developed in the United States; how these organizations serve their communities; and how cultural activity in the United States is funded--a topic of special relevance to Russian cultural institutions adjusting to reduced government support and a market economy. A three-day orientation in Washington, DC, and a debriefing in New York City will round out the program and allow the delegates to meet cultural leaders and visit a wide range of arts institutions in both cities.

Open World enlisted the Likhachev Foundation and CEC International Partners to help identify potential candidates for this program. Open World is also working with the Russian Ministry of Culture, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Peace Foundation and the host cultural institutions to build an intensive and well-rounded agenda for the participants that will expose them to both high and popular American culture.

North Carolina and Michigan will host the first Russian cultural leaders arriving in November, who come from the far-northwestern republic of Karelia and Volga Region in central European Russia. Among the delegates are a professor of music history, a fundraiser for a state philharmonic society, a contemporary art exhibition planner, and the manager of a children's folk-instrument orchestra. In 2004 and beyond, the program will expand to include Russian poets, novelists, dramatists, literary translators, folklorists, historic preservationists, and independent documentary filmmakers.

Published by The PBN Company for the Open World Leadership Center, whose Open World Program has hosted nearly 9,000 citizens from Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan since its inception in 1999. The Center is an independent legislative branch agency that works cooperatively with the U.S. Department of State and other U.S. executive and judicial branch agencies. For additional information, please visit the Open World Leadership Center's website at www.openworld.gov or contact the office at +1 202-707-8943.