FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cultural Ambassador Launches First-of-Its-Kind Global Exchange Program for Young Artists
New initiative backed by U.S. Department of State to connect 300 emerging creatives across six countries in 2026.
Washington, D.C. – November 22, 2025
Cultural Ambassador, a nonprofit leader in international arts diplomacy, today announced the launch of its Global Exchange Program for Young Artists (GEPYA), an 18-month initiative that will provide fully funded residencies, mentorship, and public showcases to 300 creatives aged 15–22 from six nations. The program, which opens applications on January 15, 2026, is supported by a $2.95 million cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and private philanthropy.
According to the National Endowment for the Arts, global demand for youth-centered cultural diplomacy has surged: fiscal year 2026 funding for Performing Arts Global Exchange projects rose 34 % year-over-year, with priority given to programs that target underserved populations and measure long-term creative-economy impact . GEPYA is the first initiative to combine virtual collaboration labs, in-person residencies, and micro-grants for community projects, creating a replicable model the Bureau plans to scale across additional regions in 2027.
“Young artists are not tomorrow’s leaders—they are today’s translators of culture and catalysts for local economies,” said Dr. Maya Delgado, Cultural Ambassador’s CEO and former cultural attaché to Brazil. “By pairing American musicians, designers, and filmmakers with their overseas counterparts, we accelerate cross-border innovation while addressing real-world challenges such as climate anxiety and post-pandemic isolation.”
GEPYA will operate in three cycles—June, September, and January—placing 50 participants at a time in cohorts split between Atlanta, Georgia, and international partner hubs in Lagos, Mexico City, Athens, Manila, and São Paulo. Each cycle begins with a two-week virtual boot camp on digital storytelling and sustainable practice, followed by a four-week residency that includes masterclasses with Grammy-winning producers, National Geographic photographers, and TikTok’s 2025 Global Creative Impact fellows.
Independent evaluations of predecessor programs show measurable gains: alumni of the State Department’s Youth Ambassadors initiative reported a 42 % increase in entrepreneurial activity within 18 months of completion, while 83 % launched community projects that still operate today . GEPYA will apply the same monitoring framework—pre/post surveys, economic-impact dashboards, and a five-year longitudinal study led by Georgetown University—to verify outcomes and publish open data sets for researchers and policymakers.
Beyond individual development, the program is structured to inject capital into local creative economies. Each participant receives a $5,000 micro-grant to co-produce a public artwork or pop-up event in their home community; aggregated spending is projected to exceed $1.5 million in direct artist payments and local vendor contracts over the life of the grant. An online marketplace launched in partnership with Etsy.org will give alumni perpetual, zero-commission storefronts, addressing a documented barrier identified in the 2024-25 YoungArts annual report where 62 % of emerging artists cited “lack of sustainable sales channels” as a top career obstacle .
Applications are judged on artistic merit, community-impact potential, and commitment to diversity; 60 % of slots are reserved for first-generation college students, rural residents, or youth from low-income households. Selection committees in each partner country are chaired by former U.S. Arts Envoy participants to ensure alignment with international best practices .
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“GEPYA is more than an exchange; it is an investment in the creative infrastructure that will power post-pandemic recovery,” added Dr. Delgado. “When we equip a 17-year-old street artist in Manila with the same tools as a studio-trained painter in Atlanta, we don’t just build portfolios—we build markets, mutual respect, and a shared cultural vocabulary that no geopolitical tension can erase.”
