About Us
Vision, Mission and Goals
Vision:
To enrich the lives of people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds through cross-cultural and educational engagement.
Mission:
To provide cultural exchange through the performing arts and education in nations emerging from conflict and isolation.
Goals:
To help the international arts community to continue to learn, grow and connect through cultural diplomacy efforts.
About Us
American Voices (AV) is one of the United States' most established cultural diplomacy organizations. It was founded by Executive Director John Ferguson in 1993 to provide authentic exchange programs in the newly independent nations of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. American Voices has been the proud recipient of a U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy (USCCD) "Best Practice Organization" award, a testament to its excellence and impact. Its innovative programs have been highlighted by major media outlets such as ABC Nightly News and CNN, further solidifying its reputation and credibility.
American Voices has implemented cultural diplomacy programs in over 160 nations, focusing on countries emerging from hardship, conflict, and isolation. In partnership with the U.S. Department of State, AV has been the implementing partner for the American Music Abroad program since 2011 and Arts Envoy since 2019. Since 2004, American Voices has pioneered the integration of all the elements of hip-hop performance and art into cultural diplomacy and engagement programs.
"Hiplomacy" teaches positive self-expression, social cohesion, and community development. Across all its programs, AV communicates the rich musical heritage of the United States to the world while enhancing cross-cultural dialogue and communication.
The Youth Excellence on Stage (YES) Academy, first implemented in Iraq in 2007, is American Voices' flagship cultural engagement program. It facilitates accessibility and understanding of unique American genres, ranging from Hip-hop and Broadway to Jazz and Songwriting. Through high-quality professional training and institutional capacity building, YES Academy programs inspire and motivate youth while training them to become the next generation of teachers, performers, and cultural leaders. This network of programs has expanded over the years to support young performing artists worldwide, including Bangladesh, Uganda, Iraq, India, Ukraine, Lebanon, Singapore, Indonesia, Kenya, and Kazakhstan.