Alumni

Alumni Spotlight: André Onofre Limírio Chaves

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André posing in front of the Brooklyn Bridge, leaning against a barrier with his left arm and holding his right hand in the air, showing excitement.

We love catching up with our wonderful J-1 exchange visitors and hearing about how their programs impacted their lives and careers. Today, we are excited to share our J-1 scholar, André’s, experience. André is a Doctoral student in Science and Culture in History at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, in Brazil. With plenty of passion and experience in the museum and cultural spaces, Andre landed himself a very exciting curatorial internship at The Frick Collection in the spring of 2023.

What were some projects you worked on during your time at The Frick?
My main task was to organize the documentation and published material on the Spanish painting collection. My supervisor was putting together a new catalog about these paintings so I had the opportunity to study and research the works of Francisco Goya and El Greco. I carried out research in institution’s archive and also in the Frick Art Reference Library. I was able to organize and research documents and bibliographical materials for four paintings.

Were you able to visit other cultural institutions around New York?
I had the opportunity to visit the best museums and galleries in New York. I visited Neue Galerie, The Met, Jewish Museum, Guggenheim, Sotheby’s, TEFAF, Brooklyn Museum, Whitney Museum, Natural History Museum, New York Historical Society, Spanish Society, MoMa, and Morgan Library. My first time walking at the Central Park, seeing The Met and other museums was so important for me, so special. My favorite part of The Met is the American Wing, as I got to see how American art has developed from the colonial period to the present day.

 

André posing in front of the Brooklyn Bridge, leaning against a barrier with his left arm and holding his right hand in the air, showing excitement.
Andre standing between two Egyptian statues.

Do you have a favorite moment or experience from your program?
My favorite moments were when I went to Sotheby’s auction house and the TEFAF Art Fair, where I could understand how the art market in NY is, the role of researchers in this process, and being able to see incredible works of art. My second favorite moment was my visit to the exhibition “Juan de Pareja – Afro Hispanic Painter” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where the entire curatorial and educational team had a guided tour with the curator of the exhibition. In such a way, I was able to understand the concept of the exhibition from the beginning to the end, observing the role of the curators in the creation of the exhibitions.

What is one of the most exciting things you learned?
I had the opportunity to learn from the best curators in the USA, who gave me tips on how to organize an art exhibition, how to describe the objects, how to read a painting in order to understand the compositions, the state of conservation, and also the artists’ intentions. I learned a lot with The Frick’s curators. For me, who lives in a country with few museums of European art, it was an enriching and unique experience, as it is a way of understanding art beyond the academic world.

 

André looking at a painting.

Since the end of his program almost one year ago, André is back in his home country of Brazil, in Belo Horizonte. He is in the last few months of his PhD while also working as a document historian at the Minas Gerais Court Archive. At 7 years old, the archive is relatively new.

He is using his experience and new knowledge from his internship to create catalogues, videos, articles, and social media posts to publicize their archive and share them with the public.

“A lot of important documents from 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries were lost because of improper care or bad conditions or simply being thrown away. Professionals decided to create a space to preserve and organize these documents. It’s important to show Brazilians and international researchers the importance of these documents and why they should be saved because they hold an important piece of Brazilian history.”

Thank you for talking with us, André! We loved hearing about the important work you are doing to preserve and share history through art.

Want to share your story with us? Send us an email to get started!

When Science Meets Art: Conserving Asian Paintings with Yu-Ting

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Tucked away between the busy streets of Washington D.C. is the small but mighty Nishio Conservation Studio. This studio, which was been comfortably operating in their custom-made lofted space since 1995, combines aspects of traditional Japanese craftsmanship with modern Western science to provide the highest quality conservation work for their clients. Focusing primarily on conserving Asian paintings, folding screens (called byōbu), and hanging scrolls (called kakemono), the artists at Nishio’s Studio bring these artworks back to life with the utmost care and vibrancy.

Yu-Ting Hsu is a student at the Graduate Institute of Conservation of Cultural Relic and Museology at Tainan National University of Arts in Taiwan. Her specialization is in Conservation of Paper and Asian Paintings, making Nishio’s studio the perfect place for her J-1 visa program. During her internship, she learned how to approach conservation in a professional setting and how to examine and prepare paintings for treatment by making starch paste, cutting papers, and cleaning brushes. For her final project, she even made her own Japanese style scroll! When Yu-Ting was not on site at Nishio’s, she explored hiking trails in Virginia and visited the many free museums that D.C. has to offer.

Before the end of the program, the Cultural Exchange Programs team was able to visit with Yu-Ting at Nishio’s for a full day of conservation education. Did you know that in order to achieve rich blue and green colors on byōbu, artists would use crushed azurite and malachite? Now you do! Scroll on to see what else Yu-Ting shared with us.

What was a project you enjoyed working on during your program?
There is a four-panel screen from Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA). The artist is Chiura Obata. The object was in poor condition. The screen had spilt into two sections. Overall discoloration was present in the paper and foxing spots* were present throughout the panels. I took part in the whole process of conservation of the four-panel screen. We started with removing the painting from wooden border, then removing backing paper. After consolidating the color, we bleached the foxing spots and washed the painting. In the mid-October, conservators and curators from the UMFA visited studio to check the four-panel screen. They were satisfied with the after-treatment condition!

*Foxing spots are brown and rust colored spots that appear on old paper. If the paper has a certain level of iron or other substances present in it, exposure to a specific temperature and humidity will create the foxing.

What was an interesting new skill you learned on the job?
My host taught me how to make a Japanese hanging scroll. I learned a lot of Japanese mounting knowledge from the panel screen and Japanese hanging scroll, which I don’t have opportunities to learn in Taiwan. For example, the fiber of Japanese paper is longer than Chinese paper, so there are different ways in backing the paper for mounting.

What did you learn about the arts culture in America? What was your favorite cultural activity?
I had visited a lot museum, like National Gallery of Arts, Freer Gallery of Arts, and The Kreeger Museum. I saw collections that I had not seen it before. My host had arranged for me to visit the conservation lab at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Those experiences helped me to get more information not only conservation cases but also the network.

The most impressive [activity] was the concert at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. My host is involved in a band and he invited me to the performance. My favorite song in the concert was “Moon River”. I really enjoyed it!

 

 

Want to learn more about byōbu? Check out this video on the history of Japanese folding screens, directly from Nishio's Studio!

Alumni Spotlight: Amy Bruning

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Welcome to our first alumni spotlight of 2023! We are thrilled to feature J-1 research scholar, Amy Bruning, from Scotland. Amy is a mixed media artist who currently lives in Finland where she is pursuing her Master’s degree in animation. From August 2021 until May 2022, she participated in an Artists-in-Residency (AIR) program at Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute (MWPAI) and within the PrattMWP College of Art and Design Program, which was a “truly life changing” experience for her!

Amy’s residency was nothing short of productive. Throughout the 9-month program, she planned and taught community art classes to adults and kids, and facilitated projects for the museum’s Art Alive projects. She also taught two Light, Color, and Design courses to university students as part of the College of Art and Design program. Most excitingly, Amy was able to create works for her own exhibition, Days of Healing, which explored the journey of healing from grief and trauma through the various stages of coping with loss.

Can you tell us what you have been doing since finishing your exchange program?
I am pursuing my Master’s with the Re:Anima: European Joint Master in Animation program.  It’s a collaboration between three universities, LUCA School in Belgium, Aalto University in Finland, and Universidade Lusófona in Portugal I am working on a research dossier for an expanded animation installation that I will be working on over the next two years. I recently put together an exhibition of animated projections and animated paintings, which was as part of the research and I will be taking this work further in May of this year during an artist residency in Italy.

Looking back, what are your thoughts about your exchange program?
I had a really amazing time on my exchange. It set me on a new career path and helped me to pursue what I truly wanted to do. Working as a community art instructor, as well as an adjunct professor at PrattMWP in Utica, New York, an extension campus of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, allowed me to rediscover my love of teaching.  I would like to pursue a teaching career in higher education when I finish my Master’s.

How did your experience contribute to your career outside the U.S. and in your home country?
I am now able to live and work as an artist. When I returned to Scotland, I was able to secure another 4-month artist residency. I received a full scholarship for this Master’s program, which allows me to work on my artistic practice freely for the next two years. Prior to the exchange, I was supporting myself by working as a designer and editor while trying to pursue my artistic practice in the evenings and weekends. It was quite difficult and I didn’t enjoy the jobs I had. This opportunity gave me a huge boost in my art career and I do not think I would be where I am now without it.

Do you have any specific advice for new exchange visitors coming to the U.S.?
As soon as you arrive, try to immerse yourself into the place you are staying. Ask everyone you meet to go for a coffee and just really put yourself out there. Say yes to every opportunity and try to travel as much as possible.

 

Audrey Hasen Taylor, Community Arts Education + Residency Director at MWPAI, also shared thoughts with us about Amy’s residency.

“Amy immediately became very active and involved in our local community. She initiated both personal and professional meetings and connections with a variety of creatives in our area; she was commissioned to create a mural in a new retail shop here in Utica. We cannot say enough great things about Amy. We are lucky to have a part in her early art and teaching career.”

We can't wait to see what Amy does next!

If you are a visual artist looking for Painting or Drawing residency, the AIR program that Amy attended is accepting applications through March 20, 2023. Learn more about the AIR program here, or send us as email at outreach@artsandartists.org to learn about our exchange opportunities.

Alumni Spotlight: Rory Diamond

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We are extremely excited to highlight our J-1 alum., Rory Diamond, from Canada. During his program at Sony Pictures in Los Angeles, Rory gained hands-on television writing experience in the Writers’ Room of the hit show, The Good Doctor. He also found time to experience life in California to the fullest by going to concerts, sporting events, and learning to surf!  He is now working as a Script Coordinator for The Good Doctor in Canada. Keep reading to join his wonderful journey in Hollywood!

 

What impact has your J-1 experience had on your life and your career?
I got to live in the city where the heart of my industry is, which not only was a dazzling life experience, but an eye-opening step in my career. I am now fully trained and able to Script Coordinate, a unique and valuable skillset, which grants access to the fabled Writers’ Room. I’m currently exploring ways to do it in Toronto for other Canadian shows. Not only has this allowed me to continue working on The Good Doctor from Canada, but also has opened many doors and created connections of which the value is difficult to measure.

What is your favorite memory from your J-1 program?
My favourite memory was of my first day being in the Writers’ Room. Just walking in and seeing the whiteboards covered in chicken scratch that may or may not be seen by millions of viewers. The free lunches, the coffee runs, the nervousness of speaking up, and the incredible feeling when something lands. By all accounts, deciding to be a TV writer is a silly decision, but in the Writers’ Room, those doubts seemed to melt into a warm sense of validation that I hold close to my heart.

What were some of your favorite cultural activities to do Los Angeles?
Eat delicious food and see amazing comedy and music. And if I could do both of those in one night, which was something I did often, I was a very happy boy. I loved living in Los Angeles. I saw my favorite band, Phish, play at The Forum, which is a classic venue I’ve always wanted to go to, which was a great experience. I did a lot of hiking, which you can’t really do in Toronto.

What advice can you offer to future exchange visitors coming to the United States?
Rent a furnished apartment if you can, to avoid the trouble of purchasing a bunch of furniture off Facebook Marketplace and then having to sell it all on Facebook Marketplace a year later. Sign up for classes and meet people. Go to as many networking things as possible; make connections that will help you in the future, wherever you end up. Take advantage of the unique things your city has to offer. Hike, bike, eat, and have fun.

What does cultural exchange mean to you?
It’s the true definition of a win-win. It makes me happy and gives me hope that two countries can work together to provide such a wonderful program and experience for their constituents. I think anyone who is able to endeavor this experience would be better off for it.

Any last thoughts?
At this point, I think I could thrive in any Canadian Writers’ Room and I don’t know if that would have been the case a year ago. [The exchange] was an amazing experience.

 

 

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, Rory!

Looking for a place to get started with your own exchange program? Check out our website to explore different fields or explore different cities!

Alumni Update: Hyppolite’s “Be the Peace” Walk

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IA&A #J1Alum and genocide survivor Hyppolite Ntigurirwa recently finished a 100-day walk across Rwanda to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Genocide Against the Tutsi. His “Be The Peace Walk” was a performance that invited individuals from around the world to spread messages of love and peace. As Hyppolite explained, “It is a performance of remembrance and resilience from brutality and fatalities towards a more peaceful future.”

Hyppolite is a performing artist, researcher, and activist whose work focuses on ending the intergenerational transmission of hate. In 2016, he participated in IA&A’s Exchange Visitor Program, completing an artist-in-residence program with Arts Connect International, an organization that cultivates and connects leaders in the arts field committed to cultural and social inclusion. Since then, he has continued to build peace through art and engagement. His current work focuses on using theater as a tool for healing, reconciliation, and peacebuilding in post-conflict communities both in Rwanda and abroad.

Hyppolite isn’t one to simply ask for change, and he hopes to inspire others to reject the complacency in non-action. The #BeThePeaceWalk started in his home village of Mibilizi on April 15 and ended in Kigali on July 25. At least twice a day, Hyppolite stopped to talk to those around him about their responsibility to seek peace. “What I experienced I never want any child to experience. That is what I have been telling the communities. The peace we want to leave for our children and the generations to come is the peace we have to work for today,” he said in an interview with The New Times. Through this walk and his other peace activism he honors the memories of his loved ones and all victims of the genocide. 

Learn more about IA&A's programs and start planning your exchange experience!

 

Can you name five women artists?

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Can you name #5WomenArtists? We can! We’re joining the National Museum of Women in the Arts and other arts organizations around the world to celebrate women artists and promote gender equality in the arts.

This Women’s History Month, IA&A is taking the challenge and sharing the stories of several spectacular women artists who have participated in our Exchange Visitor Program. We are so proud to have such brilliant, creative, and inspiring women in our midst that it was so tough to choose only five! Read on to celebrate these artists and join us in contributing to the dialogue on gender inequality in the arts by using the hashtag #5WomenArtists.

Mia Riley

Hailing from Canada, Mia Riley is an emerging ceramic artist who finds inspiration while adventuring in nature. A graduate of the Alberta College of Art and Design, she has also completed residencies at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, researching wood kiln building, alternative making processes, and the natural disasters that have affected her home province in the last decade.

She recently finished an eight-month long internship with Harvard University’s Ceramics Program as part of IA&A’s Exchange Visitor Program. During her program, she had the opportunity to explore her own art practice and gain hands-on experience running studio operations.

As Mia says, ceramics allow her to depict abstractly her experiences into tangible three-dimensional objects, emphasizing the transience of landscape and subtly referencing our place within the natural system. Her favorite part of interning in Boston was being able to meet new artists and share experiences. “Because the Harvard studio is home to a large number of artists, professionals, and students at many stages of their careers, I had the chance to meet and exchange ideas on many levels,” she told us. “It has inspired me to see how ceramic art and pottery can exist in many different aspects in one’s life and career.”

To learn more about Mia, check out IA&A’s profile on this talented artist! You can also find out more about her work by visiting her website or following her on Instagram!

Romina Schulz Rosas

Romina Schulz Rosas is a Peruvian feminist textile artist and graduate with a painting specialty from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. Her work focuses on exposing problems Peruvian women face under current socio-cultural taboos and constructs. More specifically, how female bodies have become territory and space under the colonizing gaze of a patriarchal, oblivious androcentric context which treats them as disposable.

Part of her effort to expose this phenomena is in the creation of her project, Que rico menstruo, where she gives embroidery workshops to begin to dismantle the stigma surrounding menstruation. As part of the project, Romina prompts interventions on pieces of clothing, focusing on the groin area, with materials of various shades of red, simulating a menstruation blood stain.

Romina is currently in the Artists in Residence (AIR) program at the Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn, NY, through IA&A’s Exchange Visitor Program. The AIR program equips emerging artists and designers with resources and skills to better articulate their practices and contribute to their communities. It combines studio access with a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum, regular critical dialogue, and mentorship.

You can find out more about Romina’s work by following her on Instagram!

Stevennina Drassinower

Stevennina Drassinower is an extraordinary sculptor currently interning at Oxman Studios in Washington, DC. She describes her work as relating to sculptural metal, telling us “I make aesthetically interesting things, mostly out of metal. Sculpture is where I found my calling, and metal is where I really found my voice.” Through her exchange experience she learned a tremendous amount about art as a business, refining design and idea generation, as well as technical metalworking skills.

“There is not a single part of me as an artist that has not been touched and made better by my experience at Oxman Studios. I’ve learned sustainable, practical strategies for handling the balancing act between being an emotionally sincere artist, and a regular person with practical needs, and life outside work. At the same time, I’ve been learning to create art that has wildly surpassed my own expectations of what I was capable of.”

“Before coming here, I had a vague dream to make a career selling my art, but had no real idea how to make it happen. In my time at Oxman Studios I’ve experienced the daily minutiae of studio life, and exhilaration of truly inspired creation. When all this is over, and I fly back to Canada, I'll leave knowing that through this experience, my artistic visions have been made more grand, and my toolbox more full.”

You can find out more about Stevennina’s work by following her on Instagram!

Anyuta Gusakova

Anyuta Gusakova is a classically trained contemporary artist from Canada who works in multimedia sculpture and painting. She's a self-proclaimed “sculptor of dreams”, telling us:

“I am a dreamer, I have all sorts: happy dreams and dark dreams. Dreams for children and dreams for adults, 2D dreams and 3D dreams. They come to me when I sleep or day-dream. My job is to materialize them in acrylic or watercolor, clay or stone, metal or paper whichever form they want to take. I help the dreams to escape from their ethereal kingdom and fill our world with their mysterious, irrational beauty.”

Anyuta combines principles of classical art with craft applications, folk, and mythical motifs through her signature brand slip-cast porcelain functional and decorative objects. Her sculptures are on public display at the Vancouver International Airport and Vancouver Playhouse. Additionally, she recently won a commission to design and create a porcelain statuette for the new national Canadian Legend Award and she has been a finalist in several major international ceramic competitions in the United States, Canada, and France.

Anuyta is currently completing a residency program with Pottery Northwest in Seattle, WA, through IA&A’s Exchange Visitor Program. During her residency, she is growing as a ceramic artist, engaging in the community, and further developing her body of work.

To learn more about Anyuta, visit her website or follow her on Instagram!

Liene Bosquê

Liene Bosquê is an accomplished Brazilian visual artist and art educator currently based in New York and Miami. She also knows #WhyHostingMatters! Last year, she hosted exchange visitor Romain for a three-month internship with her studio.

Liene’s work is inspired by the relationship between people and place. She evokes memory, context, and history in the traces, shadows, impressions, imprints, and reflections within her multidisciplinary installations, objects, and site-specifics. She seeks to “investigate the passage of time, which changes place and how we look at place, through the presence and absence of who inhabit these places.” On top of her own art, Liene currently teaches sculpting workshops for immigrants in the New New Yorkers Program at the Queens Museum.

Her work has been exhibited extensively across the United States and internationally, including exhibitions at MoMA PS1 (2016), William Holman Gallery in New York (2015), the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago (2013), Carpe Diem in Lisbon, Portugal (2010), and Museu de Arte de Ribeirao Preto in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil (2007), to name a few. Her work has also been displayed at nonprofit galleries and public spaces worldwide.

To learn more about Liene, visit her website or follow her on Instagram!

Learn more about IA&A's programs for artists and start planning your unique exchange experience!

 

New Directions in Performance Art

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After graduating from university and working for several contemporary art galleries in Italy, Manuela Nebuloni was ready for a bigger challenge. Her goal was to dive deeper into the field of performance and cultural production, learning more about how American organizations present these types of events. So, when the opportunity to do an internship in the United States arose, Manuela jumped at the chance!

We recently caught up with Manuela to learn more about her internship in New York, NY. Founded in 2004 by art historian and curator RoseLee Goldberg, Performa is the leading organization dedicated to exploring the critical role of live performance in the history of twentieth-century art and encouraging new directions in performance for the twenty-first century.

During her internship with Performa, Manuela had the chance to work as a Production Fellow with other outstanding professionals from the United States and beyond. “I learned a lot about producing shows in a fast-paced environment,” she told us, adding, “I took a deeper look into the American art scene, contemporary African art, and social engagement in urban centers.” Keep reading to learn more about her incredible experience in New York!

What impact has your traineeship with Performa had on your life and your career?

My exchange program allowed me to spend a six-month fellowship at Performa, a leader in commissioning artists whose work explores the critical role of live performance and encouraging new directions in performance for the twenty-first century. In my country, there is great interest in performance art right now and we are eager to learn about the research currently being conducted in the United States.

I especially appreciated the variety and diversity of the cultural offerings in New York. So many artists I admire chose New York as their base, or are drawn here from all over the world. I was part of a team I loved and very much enjoyed working with. There was never a dull day!

From the personal point of view the impact has been even greater; this experience in the United States has helped shape my vision on the role of art in our cities and everyday life. I expanded my understanding of American culture and benefited from a multicultural work environment. This is something that can be gained by diving everyday into a new context and by relating to people from another country.

What was your favorite memory from your exchange program?

As part of Performa17 Biennial, I had the chance to collaborate to the production of a piece by artist Kelly Nipper, in collaboration with MIT’s Self-Assembly Lab and the Granoff Center for the Creative Arts at Brown University. Working with a multi-disciplinary team over several months was an intense and enriching production experience. The work involved liaising daily with MIT, producing custom elements, and setting up for the performance. A captivating choreography on a newly-created soundtrack, it was a real opportunity to witness closely the full creative process. Supporting an artist in achieving her vision was a real privilege.

What was it like living in New York and what was your favorite thing to do in the city?

I loved spending six months in New York! I have fond memories of its streets, the cafes in Brooklyn, as well as its parks, beaches and art centers. It’s vibrant and felt like home. I feel I was totally immersed in the arts and part of the big machine of cultural production of New York. I couldn’t choose among the many performances, experimental theatre shows, contemporary art exhibitions, and live music concerts I saw. Every day was slightly overwhelming, in a good way.

Did you experience cultural differences when you first arrived, and how did you react to this?

As someone coming from a country that is proudly rooted in its past, it’s still mind-blowing to me to observe how quickly America changes. The age of buildings, habits, and provenance of people is quite a difference with Italy, which makes me curious to learn more about it. There are for sure differences in daily life, especially due to the big size of New York and its peculiarities. I felt that Italian culture is quite present in the American one. Adaptability when you are in another country is a must, it can be an effort sometimes but most of the time I regard it as funny and a chance of personal growth.

What does cultural exchange mean to you?

Taking the time to look intensely into another culture. There’s a great range of cultures if you go to the United States, diverse and multi-faced. It also means being open, curious, and allowing oneself to add an experience to your life. There is a lot to learn out there and many possibilities you’ll only see if you change point of view.

What advice can you offer to future exchange visitors coming to the United States?

Go! You can’t help feeling enriched by the experience. Allow yourself to spend enough time in the United States. And travel, it’s a big country.

Learn more about IA&A's programs for performing arts managers and start planning your unique exchange experience!

 

Supporting Artists and Exploring Museums in NYC

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Many of us know why exchanges matter! Exchange programs give visitors from around the world the chance to experience America’s diverse culture, to learn more about the arts in America, and to develop the skills they need to thrive in their professional careers.

We recently caught up with Heliis, a #J1Alum from Estonia who learn more about her internship at the International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) in New York, NY. ISCP is an incredible organization that supports the creative development of artists and curators, and promotes exchange through residencies and public programs. The organization is New York’s most comprehensive international visual arts residency program, with over 1350 artists and curators from over 80 countries having undertaken residencies at ISCP.

During her internship with ISCP, Heliis had the opportunity to learn many new skills, particularly in communications and fundraising, by participating in many different projects throughout her exchange program. Keep reading to learn more about her fascinating experience in New York!

What impact has your exchange experience had on your life and your career?

Thanks to this exchange experience I feel much more confident in myself and my skills. Working in a foreign office was a very enlightening experience, especially in giving me the entry-level skills I needed to get my career started. Since most of the jobs in the job market require at least some sort of professional experience, I think a full year-long internship was a good choice to obtain knowledge and also build my network. During the internship, I connected with so many different aspects of working in a nonprofit organization. I was trusted with important responsibilities which gave me more confidence in myself. This exchange year has definitely made me open up more about my career choices and what I would like to focus on in the future.

What is your favorite memory from your exchange program?

I have a lot of fond memories of my program. I enjoyed assisting the most with ISCP's social art offsite project Pablo Helguera: La Austral S.A. de C.V. This entire program consisted of telling stories of life and memories, and it was an amazing experience to see all the participants building their stories and the public express their experiences in a small community.

What was your favorite cultural activity to do in New York?

New York is such a huge city, that you can get lost in the activities that you can take part in there. However, I would say that I definitely enjoyed the rich museum scene, especially the art museums. Since I very much enjoy interactive experiences, I developed a few favorite museums such as the Whitney Museum, the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, and the Museum of the City of New York, which I visited numerous times during my exchange.

What advice can you offer to future exchange visitors coming to the United States?

I would definitely say be very open-minded, be open to conversations, and be willing to share your experience. Americans are very open themselves and like to get to know you, what your interests are, and what your dreams are. At first, it might feel overwhelming because the culture is so diverse, but soon you will encounter so many different ideas, thoughts, experiences, and really meet people from all areas of life, which makes you feel part of it with your own experience.

What does cultural exchange mean to you?

I feel like the cultural exchange is very important in giving us as humans an opportunity to discover new things in life as well as within ourselves. Connecting with others and their cultures have enriched my life tremendously, and I am more than thankful for those experiences.

Alumni Update: Hyppolite Speaks at One Young World

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“At a very young age, my eyes have seen what no child should see; my ears have heard what no child should hear. That’s why I work with young people to halt the intergenerational transmission of hate for a much more peaceful future.”

#J1Alum Hyppolite Ntigurirwa recently delivered a powerful address at the One Young World summit in Bogotá. As part of the “Peace and Reconciliation” plenary session, Hyppolite shared with the audience how he is spreading his message of peace, using theater as a tool for healing, reconciliation, and peacebuilding in post-conflict communities both in Rwanda and abroad.

In 2016, Hyppolite participated in IA&A’s J-1 Exchange Visitor Program as the first international young leader to be selected for Arts Connect International’s Artist-in-Residence program. During his program, Hyppolite connected with other artists and social activists, acquired key arts management skills, and further developed his artistic body of work. He continues that work today through his Be the Peace Initiative.

Watch his speech below and read more about his exchange experience here.

Exchange Visitor Profile: Eugenio Saenz Flores

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Ever wonder what it’s like to work behind-the-scenes on a Broadway production? Eugenio Saenz Flores got to do just that when he interned with Aurora Productions in New York, NY, through IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs. We recently caught up with Eugenio in Vancouver, Canada, where he is now working as a technical director at the Arts Club Theatre Company.

Looking back, what are your thoughts about your experience at Aurora Productions?

Aurora Productions was by far one of the best times I have had since my career started. Finishing school and moving to New York to work with them was a dream come true. Suddenly I was not on only one but over half a dozen Broadway theatres. Throughout my time there we worked in over a dozen Broadway shows, a couple off-Broadway and some national tours. Suddenly I was sitting in an empty theatre a few seats away from Woody Allen as we both watched a run of the play he had written. I believe that what I learned as an intern at Aurora Productions were lessons I could not have learned in any classroom and eventually opened many doors to let me be where I am now.

What projects are you working on now in Vancouver?

I am currently one of the three Technical Directors at the Arts Club Theatre Company, Canada’s largest western theatre company. I am overseeing our largest venue, the Stanley Stage, where we produce everything from a two-hander play to a full on musical productions. I am also in charge of the regional tours.

What are some of the differences, if any, in working in New York City versus in Vancouver?

I think one of the biggest difference from working in Vancouver, rather than New York, other than the budgets (and tourists), is that in New York I was able to work on shows that later got produced all over North America and sometimes the world. For instance here at the Arts Club, they have produced a handful of plays that I was able to work on Broadway.

What advice would you have for someone who is starting a J-1 program?

Transitioning from school life to work life can be scary, but with an internship program it allows you to slowly transition to a full time working mode while still being trained and slowly be given more responsibility. At least for me I feel my internship program advanced my career a couple of years just by interning a couple of months.

What does cultural exchange mean to you?

People within the same city think, act and do things differently, no try leaving your country. Having the chance to go intern elsewhere allows us to see how other people think, work and live. This ultimately improves how we see the world and how we do things. Opportunities like this not only broaden our perspective of the world, it also allows us to share our culture and way of doing things to other people. It is always a two way street, we will gain out of a cultural exchange as much as we are willing to give.