Is the Art in Embassies Program in every American embassy?
Elizabeth: Almost every embassy. We are almost everywhere in the world where there is a U.S. ambassador. There are a few cases where, because of whatever issue – security or politics, for example – we are not present. Right now we don’t have exhibitions in Venezuela or Cuba. Technically we don’t have a U.S. ambassador in Cuba – we have a Chief of Mission – but they’re almost the same. So we are in most places. We’re going back into Iraq; we’re going back into Afghanistan; we’re going back to Libya – we just reestablished diplomatic relations in recent years. Paula: Everywhere there is an Art in Embassies Program. . .does that also mean you get to do your special project with the American artist coming in? What percentage of the time do you get to do this? Elizabeth: That’s a much smaller percentage unfortunately. We would try to send out a dozen artists a year – funding is limited which is why the number is so small – and I’m the only person working on it! In my office it’s me – so tha
