U.S. Department of State Announces New International Music Exchange

U.S. Department of State Announces

New International Music Exchange

onebeat

The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces a new international music exchange-- OneBeat.  This innovative project brings musicians (ages 19-35) from selected countries to the United States to collaborate with each other and Americans in the creation and performance of new music, share and develop ways to use music to positively affect their communities, and foster ways that diverse people can creatively and collaboratively address universal issues. This program will serve as an incubator for new ideas in music and illustrate ways that music can be used for positive social engagement.  OneBeat builds on Secretary Clinton’s concept of “smart power,” by opening new avenues of conversation between individuals and nations. 

In January 2012, OneBeat will accept applications for more than 50 young professional musicians and accomplished students to come to the U.S. to work with their American counterparts in the composition, performance of new cross-genre works, the creation of innovative recordings and videos, and the development of practices of music as social engagement.

To find out more about the application process, register at www.onebeatmusic.org.

OneBeat is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State and will be administered by Bang on a Can’s Found Sound Nation (FSN) program.  FSN is an eclectic group of artists who love to make music from the sounds of the places and communities that surround them. Working with people across the globe, from schools to prisons, from young to old, and partnering with local youth, social organizations, music festivals, and artists across all disciplines, FSN strives to create musical spaces that transcend geographic, linguistic, and political borders. The work of FSN uses the expressive power of music and audio production to give voice to underrepresented communities, unlock the creative potential of youth, and build bridges between communities separated by cultures, economic disparities, and geography.