U.S. Mission China Public Diplomacy Program: “Art for the People: Using Our Voices”

The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China of the United States Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications for award of a cooperative agreement through our Mission China Public Diplomacy Grant Program. The “Art for the People: Using Our Voices” program seeks to inform public audiences in the People’s Republic of China about U.S. citizen engagement on the broad themes of democracy, human rights, individual freedoms, and diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. It will also promote the American values of free speech and freedom of expression through art. The goal of the program is that by the end of its implementation, target audiences will demonstrate increased understanding of U.S. values and culture, and of the role that art plays in catalyzing essential conversations among people, civic organizations, and government about challenges facing society today. This program builds on two previous “Art for the People” projects implemented in Beijing in 2021 and 2022. Those featured the large-scale exhibit of images on the outer walls of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing of U.S. street art touching on freedom of expression (“Art for the People”, 2021) and environmental protection and climate change (“Art for the People: The Earth”, 2022). Visuals of the two exhibits and associated digital products are available on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing at the hyperlinks in this paragraph. In addition, this feature story on the first “Art for the People” exhibit underscores the foreign policy goals and impact of the 2021 Art for the People project. The “Art for the People: Using Our Voices” program includes three elements: The "Art for the People: Using Our Voices" street art exhibit Associated digital products for public diplomacy programming Public engagement programs for PRC citizens with selected “Art for the People: Using Our Voices” artists. Priority Program Themes: Democracy and Human Rights Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Civil Society