An art and cultural exchange that originated in 2007 in Cincinnati, has spanned three continents and earned an Innovation in Arts and Culture Award at this summer’s Sister Cities International conference.
The award went to the city’s “Triangular Artworks Project” where a total of 18 Cincinnati, Munich, Germany and Liuzhou, Chinese artists collaborated on an original, two-dimensional artwork that was redrawn by other artists in any medium they chose. In 2008 and 2009 many of the artists travelled to each other’s countries in an art exchange exhibit.
Cincinnati, Munich and Liuzhou are Sister Cities. The OKI Sister City Coalition, Cincinnati’s Sister City group, is an all voluntary, non-profit, non-governmental association which, through its Member Sister City organizations, promotes cultural, educational and charitable exchanges and encourages beneficial trade and commercial opportunities between its sister cities and the Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana region.
“The quality of the 2008 projects recognized by the Sister Cities International jury were awe-inspiring,” said Jan Brown-Checco, creator and lead artist of the Triangular Artworks Project. “I left the ceremonies feeling grateful that art has a place at the table and that others believe that artists have an important role to play in establishment of positive human relationships.”
The award was announced at the 2009 Annual Sister Cities International Conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland, held from July 29 to Aug. 1. Cincinnati was one of 15 U.S. cities recognized by Sister Cities International.
Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: OKI Sister City Coalition
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