Washington’s diplomatic community gathered for a series of notable events in the past month. The Institute for Education hosted its annual summer social at Congressional Country Club, with a book talk by Kiyomi Buker; the Embassy of Monaco celebrated Princess Grace with a special dedication at the Smithsonian Gardens; Meridian International Center welcomed 14 new ambassadors to town; and the Embassy of Switzerland hosted its annual Soirée Suisse.
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].
Luxembourg’s Nicole Bintner-Bakshian was the featured speaker at The Washington Diplomat’s latest Ambassador Insider Series event, held July 15. More than 120 people packed the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Dupont Circle to hear veteran journalist Adrienne Ross interview her at the Diplomat’s signature event.
US-Moroccan relations — from economic, defense and cultural ties, to Washington’s diplomatic backing of Morocco on key regional issues — were central topics at the Embassy’s Throne Day celebration on July 30.
Djibouti and Rwanda recently celebrated their national days. A new Mexican ambassador arrived in Washington, Roberto Lazzeri. Meridian International Center and Google Arts & Culture partnered to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial.
The Institute for Education and Coach Kathy Kemper hosted a farewell gathering for Estonian Ambassador Kristjan Prikk, who is off to his next post in Brussels. And the EU Delegation hosted its annual State of the Arts Night on June 6.
WECAA, which just celebrated its fifth anniversary as Washington’s hub for cultural engagement between the diplomatic community and other institutions, brought together more than 30 DC-based embassies, cultural representatives and social sector leaders to speak on strengthening bilateral relations, soft diplomacy and upcoming events to mark America’s 250th birthday.
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.
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.
