The ongoing conflict in the Middle East – and a moment of silence for innocent victims of war – set the tone for the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce’s 15th annual Iftar earlier this month. A Greek Independence Day reception was hosted at The Center for Hellenic Studies on March 25.
Angelique Gingras
Angelique Gingras is an associate editor at The Washington Diplomat. She is currently based in London as a freelance journalist. She joined The Washington Diplomat in August 2021 as an intern. Reach out to her at [email protected].
When Muriel Bowser took office Jan. 2, 2015, as mayor of the District of Columbia, nobody had yet heard of Black Lives Matter, Covid-19, DOGE or AI. Donald Trump’s entry into the race for president was still half a year away, and for most people, ICE still meant water that had frozen.
Seventy foreign embassies and cultural organizations in DC participated in the 12th edition of Winternational, hosted by the World Trade Center Washington to showcase cultural traditions and tourism from around the globe.
On Oct. 3, the Bulgarian Embassy hosted a dynamic showcase of youth talent by the Washington International Young Artists Music Series (WIYAMS). Partnering with the Bulgarian Music Society, ten musicians performed a variety of classical pieces on piano, violin, vocals and more.
Ambassador Serge Mombouli, the longest-serving African envoy to the United States, representing the Republic of Congo, died in Washington on Sept. 5.
Five newly appointed ambassadors have recently joined Washington’s diplomatic scene, representing Benin, Burkina Faso, Germany, Liberia and Malaysia.
The wives and husbands of ambassadors posted in the nation’s capital take center stage in cultural diplomacy, bringing the traditions of their countries to the United States while engaging in the international mosaic of DC’s diplomatic community.
Thirty-four foreign embassies in the nation’s capital showcased their cuisines at EventsDC’s annual Embassy Chef Challenge on July 10. The Embassy of Egypt celebrated its national day on July 22.
Diplomats and the creative industries collided in Washington last month for Meridian International Center’s fifth edition of its signature cultural diplomacy event, Culturefix. The embassies of Djibouti and Burundi celebrated their independence days.
Theatre Washington rolled out the red carpet on May 19 for the annual Helen Hayes Awards. Now in its 41st year, the event recognizes the achievements of professional theatre and theatre-makers in Washington, and celebrates the city’s vibrant performing arts community.
Hosted by EventsDC, the Around the World Embassy Tour is one of the premier events of PassportDC, a month-long celebration showcasing the city’s diplomatic community and vibrant international culture. Visitors received a souvenir passport and collected stamps at each stop, where embassies offered a variety of cultural experiences, including live performances, fashion shows, traditional cuisine, art exhibits, shopping and more.
Ramadan brought together Washington diplomats, cultural organizations and government sectors for a month of evening iftar feasts in accordance with Muslim tradition. Celebrated by nearly two billion Muslims worldwide, the holy month is a time of increased prayer, reflection and charity, along with fasting during daylight hours.
An assortment of cultural programming emerged in the nation’s capital during the month of February. Check out our latest Diplomatic Spotlight featuring everything from Washington’s new ambassadors to the kickoff of PassportDC.
Foreign embassies around the nation’s capital welcomed the second Trump administration into office with a series of celebrations leading up to the inauguration of the 47th president on Jan. 20.
A career diplomat, an advocate of Tunisian-U.S. relations, and a champion for women’s freedoms in her country; this is the resume of Hanène Tajouri Bessassi and she was recently named the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Ambassador of the Year.
Estonian Ambassador Kristjan Prikk and his wife Liis were honorary patrons at Choral Arts Society of Washington’s annual holiday concert and gala on Dec. 16.
