Join the international music exchange that celebrates musical collaboration and social engagement

MEDIA NOTE ARE YOU A MUSICIAN OR A SONGWRITER? ARE YOU SOCIALLY ENGAGED? Join the international music exchange that celebrates musical collaboration and social engagement Apply before September 15, 2023 Tunis, August 29, 2023 – OneBeat is accepting applications for two month-long U.S.-based music exchanges scheduled for the Spring and Fall of 2024, which will …

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Dina Preston Band Brings the Power of Music and Entrepreneurship to Tunisia

With 27 world tours and performances in 44 countries, the  Dina Preston Band  has left an indelible mark on the global music scene and now they are coming to Tunisia to give free public concerts and provide workshops on cultural entrepreneurship in Djerba, Gafsa, Kairouan, Sousse, and Tunis.  This exciting tour is organized by the U.S. Embassy jointly with …

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Launch of Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) Project Ensures Conservation of Tunisia’s Musical Heritage

The Center for Arab and Mediterranean Music (CMAM), under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with U.S. Embassy Tunisia launched the Conservation of Musical Instruments project at the Ennejma Ezzahra Palace in Sidi Bou Said. This three-year project, funded by CMAM and the Department of State’s Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) …

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Public Affairs Representatives Visit to Gabes, Gafsa, Medenine, and Tozeur

Our Public Affairs team was back on the road to meet with partners and to connect with Tunisian exchange alumni across the south! During our team’s trip to Gabes, Gafsa, Medenine, and Tozeur, we met with inspiring young Tunisians who participated in Embassy-supported programs in entrepreneurship, tech, and education throughout the region. We were pleased …

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Chargée d’Affaires a.i. Natasha Franceschi Visits the Oudhna Archaeological Site

Chargée d’Affaires a.i. Natasha Franceschi visited the Oudhna archaeological site to review our ongoing project to renovate the site’s ancient cisterns as part of the U.S.-funded Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation. While at Oudhna, Chargée Franceschi engaged with the Tunisian Scouts who are actively preserving prominent cultural heritage sites across Tunisia, like Oudhna, by volunteering …

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Chargée d’Affaires, a.i. Natasha Franceschi Attends the Opening Ceremony of the Ghriba Pilgrimage in Djerba

Chargée d’Affaires, a.i. Natasha Franceschi attended the opening ceremony of the Ghriba pilgrimage in Djerba yesterday, inaugurated by Prime Minister Najla Bouden. Djerba is home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world dating back more than 2,500 years. This annual pilgrimage is a testament to Tunisia’s multicultural heritage and interfaith tolerance. “We …

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Public Affairs Officer Erica Thibault Attended The Launch of a Unique Food Diplomacy Project, Ahlan 2.0

Public Affairs Officer Erica Thibault traveled to Sousse this week for the launch of a unique food diplomacy project, Ahlan 2.0, implemented in partnership with the Tunisian organization at The New Medina. This innovative cultural project will include a series of residencies and workshops that will invite prominent American chefs to experience Tunisia’s rich culinary …

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Ambassador Donald Blome and Embassy Staff Congratulate Tunisia88 Members on their Great Performance

Congratulations to Tunisia88 on hosting another great concert! Ambassador Donald Blome and our embassy team enjoyed a lively performance led by these inspiring and talented young musicians from across Tunisia. The U.S. Embassy is a proud Tunisia88 partner, which is giving more than 20,000 young Tunisians in all 24 governorates the opportunity to explore their …

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Smithsonian Folklife Festival Features Tunisia

Saturday, June 26, 1700 Tunis Register Here:   Placemaking, Collective Care, and Culture: A Conversation with Global Practitioners | Smithsonian Folklife Festival (si.edu) Join the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on Saturday, June 26, at 1700 Tunis for “Placemaking, Collective Care, and Culture: A Conversation with Global Practitioners.” Cultural entrepreneurs Soraya Hosni, Nairi Khatchadourian, and Mark Gonzales share their approaches to cultivating creativity and reviving economies in Tunisia and Armenia.  Soraya Hosni and …

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U.S. Embassy Supports Handicrafts Sector in Tunisia

U.S. Ambassador Donald Blome joined the Director General of ONAT, Faouzi Ben Halima, and the ACEA team on April 8 for the first virtual craft fair in Tunisia that gave talented and innovative artisans from across Tunisia access to international buyers through the CraftExports online platform. Today’s event is part of the U.S. Embassy’s 15.6 …

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Creative Musical Connections: Workshops with U.S. and Tunisian Musicians in Partnership with U.S. NGO Planet Arts 

Connect – hangout – interact and join a collaborative music industry conversation From February to June 2021, the U.S. Embassy is proud to support a creative collaboration with U.S.-based NGO Planet Arts.  Join us for a gathering of musicians, producers and educators from the United States and Tunisia to share ideas, methods and experiences in …

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USAID Administrator Mark Green Visits Tunisia

USAID Administrator Mark Green Meets the President of the Republic, Kais Saaied On Tuesday, February 18, 2020, the President of the Republic, Kais Saied, received the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Mark Green.  Mr. Green was on a working visit to Tunisia from February 16 to 18 as part of …

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Ambassador Blome’s Remarks at the Launch of the El Jem Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation Project

This morning we are celebrating one of Tunisia’s greatest treasures – El Jem – as well as the strong and growing U.S.-Tunisian partnership on cultural heritage preservation.  The El Jem grant is – in fact – the seventh Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation project in Tunisia.  Some of you may remember that we launched a …

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Ambassador Blome at the Unveiling Ceremony of the 1001 Hands Mural at the Ibn Rachiq Cultural Center

Ambassador Blome participated in the unveiling ceremony of “A Thousand and One Hands.”  It is a ceramic mural on the side of the “Ibn Rachiq” Cultural Center in downtown Tunis.  This large mural is composed of 1024 individual tiles created by 600 Tunisians across the country, and was partly financed by the American Embassy and …

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Launch of the Archaeological Site of Oudhna Restoration Project

In the presence of the Minister of Cultural Affairs, Mohamed Zine El Abidine, and Tunisian government and parliament representatives, Ambassador Blome launched the Oudhna archeological site restauration project.  The site located in the Ben Arous Governorate, and the project will restore the ancient cisterns and provide storage for ancient artifacts.  Work on the site, which …

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Ambassador Blome Visit to Djerba

May 21, 2019 – This year’s Lag B’Omer ceremony and Al Ghriba pilgrimage coincided with the month of Ramadan.  This was a strong example of religious coexistence and freedom of expression.  Ambassador Blome joined Tunisian government officials and other honorable guests at an Iftar offered by the Jewish community, a gesture emphasizing once again the …

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Ambassador Blome’s Trip to Sousse and Monastir

The Ambassador’s visit to Sousse supported U.S. engagement and economic initiatives in the region. During his visit, he inaugurated the new location of Amideast Center, and a new factory of SARTEX, which produces American jeans in Tunisia for export to Europe. He also visited Tunisia’s first probation office, a pilot project designed to rehabilitate prisoners …

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Ambassador Blome’s Trip to Kebili and Tozeur

On April 16-18, 2019, Ambassador Blome visited Tozeur and Kibili, which he identified as important regions to demonstrate U.S. economic development and diplomacy support.  On the trip, he visited a number of beneficiaries of U.S. assistance, including the Kibili Municipality, a date farm, and a public school.  He also spoke to citizens of the region …

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American Artists Wow Crowds At Jazz Fest

Two American artists, the Roosevelt Collier Band and Peter Cincotti, participated in the Carthage Jazz Festival thanks to the support of the U.S. Embassy.  While in town for the festival, the artists also performed for a packed crowd at the American Center, and answered questions from Tunisians about life in the music business.  Peter Cincotti …

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U.S. Ambassador’s Remarks at the National Museum of Islamic Civilization and Art

Thank you to Minister of Culture Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine for your kind invitation to attend this ceremony and share this project with you.  And thank you also to Governor Hamdi for your warm hospitality in this significant and historic city.  Finally, I want to give my thanks to Mr. Faouzi Mahfoudh, General Director …

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Ambassador Speaks at Star-Studded Closing Ceremony of Heros Build Project

On March 7, the El Makhzen Culturel Association organized the closing Ceremony of the Embassy –funded Heroes Build II project, at Cine Madart in Carthage. The project provided 10 young film students from throughout the country with expert training and equipment to make short documentaries or fictional films to illustrate their vision of Tunisia. The …

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Embassy Reaches Exchange Candidates at Comic Con Tunisia, with Marvel Comics Artist David Mack

From July 7 to 9, the Embassy participated in the second edition of Comic Con Tunisia, where nearly eight thousand Tunisians in the comics, video gaming, and digital arts communities flocked to Le Kram Exhibition Center to connect, network and share their passion and interests. With the aim of promoting exchanges recruitment, supporting the nascent local animation …

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Public Affairs Section Hosts American Film Showcase Program Envoy Lesley Chilcott

The American Film Showcase program was back in Tunisia in May, this time with award- winning director and producer Lesley Chilcott and her thrilling and heartfelt documentary CodeGirl. The film focuses on high school girls developing smart phone applications to solve social issues, trying to better their communities through technology and collaboration. Lesley’s camera followed …

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DanceMotion USA brings Keigwin + Company, leaves behind memorable choreography and collaboration

In late March, American modern dance troupe Keigwin + Company visited Tunisia from New York City as part of the DanceMotion USA program, their final stop on a tour across Africa. The American company engaged in daily workshops with 35 professional Tunisian dancers, concluding with a collaborative performance at the El Halfaouine Tunisian National Theatre. …

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“NEXT LEVEL” in Tunis

The Embassy Tunis Public Affairs Section sponsored a week long hip-hop workshop series “Next Level” – featuring four American hip-hop artists who worked with young aspiring Tunisian artists to share techniques and culture.  The visit culminated with a performance on February 12 and an “open jam” in which students and the audience of other local …

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Cheryl Miller Houser, Co-Director of the Documentary “Generation Startup” Visit to Tunis

As part of the American Film Showcase program, Cheryl Miller Houser visited Tunis to screen her documentary Generation Startup, which follows 6 recent college graduates who put everything on the line to build startups in Detroit, Michigan. Screenings took place in the American Corner Tunis on January 17, in the IHEC (Institute of Higher Commercial Studies) …

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Smithsonian-Tunisia Collaboration Workshop 2016

Representatives from the Smithsonian Institution visited Tunisia to conduct a workshop on cultural tourism, marketing, and security.  Organized in cooperation with Ministry of Tourism and Handcrafts and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the workshop brings together experts from museums across Tunisia.    This workshop was the final stage of a project resulting from President Beji Caid …

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Ambassador Presents Award for Best Heroes Build Graffiti Mural

MC Rai drew hundreds of people to the El Mourouj Cultural Center Saturday night for the final Heroes Build concert.  In addition to MC Rai’s world music performance, Tunisian hip hop artist Artmasta entertained the crowd.   MC Rai’s set enamored the energetic audience, melding the bagpipe, ney, darbouka and kanun harmoniously with guitars and keyboard.  …

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Ambassador Presents Awards to Young Filmmakers

The Ambassador presented awards to six winners of two Public Affairs video contests.  The theme of the Martin Luther King, Jr. 2016 contest, which was promoted on social media, was volunteerism.  The creators of the three top short films came from Djerba, Monastir and Tunis.  The second contest was for film-school students,  who created short …

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MC RAI Tours in Gabes and Tozeur

  On October 18-19, Tunisian-American musical artist MC Rai brought his unique fusion of classic Algerian rai and western music to Gabes and Tozeur. Taking the stage in Gabes Tuesday night, along with his band and several local musicians, MC Rai played for more than 500 attendees in the Place des Arts. His second concert, …

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Smithsonian Tunisia digital campaign

To support the development of Tunisian cultural tourism, the Smithsonian Institution in collaboration with the Tunisian Ministry of Tourism develops marketing plans and promotional materials for Tunisian cultural sites and the Bardo Museum. Star Wars Locations Native Story From ancient Berber homes to a manmade desert igloo, these are the iconic Star Wars’ sets you can visit in …

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Two Tunisian Musicians Shine in the OneBeat Program

Young Tunisian musicians Houyem Ghattas and Iskander Dridi joined 23 musical change makers from across the world to take part in take part in OneBeat , one of the U.S. Department of State’s musical diplomacy programs.  This year, OneBeat focuses on Musical Migrations, exploring how large movements of people have shaped music, and conversely, how music can encourage dialogue, peace …

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A Historical Overview of the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election

“Democratic Drama or Democratic Decline: Making Sense of the 2016 US Presidential Election.”  This captivating subject drew more than one hundred students from Tunis Business School (TBS) and the Sousse College of Arts and Humanities (FLSHS) to a talk and Q & A with political analyst and Washington Institute for the Near East Policy fellow Dr. Sarah Feuer . Dr. Feuer, whose opinions are not affiliated with …

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Tunisia’s First Comic Con Attracts 7,500

Organizers of the first Comic Con in North Africa, which was held September 2 to 4 in Tunis, said around 7,500 attended the weekend activities. Sponsored in part by the Embassy, Comic Con commemorated the 40th anniversary of the filming of the first Star Wars movie in Tunisia, but also attracted fans of cosplay, manga, …

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American Idol Star Melinda Doolittle Charms Tunisian Audiences

Singer Melinda Doolittle, a finalist on American Idol’s sixth season, performed at festivals in Sousse, El Jem and Sfax during the first week of August.   Doolittle, her four-member band and three back-up singers wowed audiences with a rousing 90-minute set of classic American R&B, soul and jazz.  One highlight was the singer’s cover of Britney …

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Café Talk Online Platform Launch

Embassy representatives attended the launch of the Café Talk online platform (www.cafetalks.org ). The platform allows participants to join or host café talks in their region while learning about other debates held country-wide. Managed by the International Institute of Debate and funded by the U.S. Embassy, Café Talk has been running since February in ten regions …

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Logo Design Contest to Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia

Congratulations to Mohamed Ben Haj Hmida, the winner of the contest. This logo will  be used throughout the year, from June-2016 to June-2017 on the Embassy website, social media sites, business cards, posters and anywhere else the Embassy chooses. Thank you to all the contestants for their creative submissions. In 1956, the United States opened its Embassy in Tunis. From …

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“Far From Home” Inspires Tunisian Youth

Phil Hessler, a 22-year-old student-turned-filmmaker, came to Tunisia as part of the State Department’s American Film Showcase to screen his documentary Far From Home. The film tells the story of Phil’s adopted brother Brolin Mawejje and his remarkable journey from a tumultuous Ugandan childhood to a new life in the U.S., where he’s working to …

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A Night in Tunisia

Each April, the United States celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM), an opportunity to savor a major American contribution to world culture. Initiated by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, JAM aims to focus public attention on the music, and on the many talented composers, musicians and other contributors to the sound. Just over 60 years …

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Embassy Team Visits Raqqada National Museum 

The Tunisian Ministry of Culture hosted Public Affairs Counselor Michael Macy and a Public Affairs section team at the Raqqada National Museum of Islamic Art in Kairaouan.  Housed in a former presidential palace, the museum boasts a unique collection of Islamic art masterpieces dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries.  Following a guided tour, …

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Under Secretary for Political Affairs Thomas A. Shannon Met with the “Heroes Build” Team

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas A. Shannon met with the core team of the U.S. Embassy funded project entitled Heroes Build  inTunis.  Heroes Build team members delivered a two-fold presentation: a general overview about the program and a video showcasing the series of completed graffiti tags and concerts.  The Under Secretary of …

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Celebrating Culture and Inter-faith Dialogue in the Tunis Medina

Ambassador Rubenstein visited El Makhzen cultural center in the Tunis Medina, where he was interviewed by Al Wataniya TV and joined an audience of Tunisian actors, actresses, students and teachers for a screening of the American Film Showcase documentary Of Many. Director Linda Mills participated in a lively post-film discussion about the role that art …

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Of Many: A Chance for Interfaith Dialogue

The U.S. Embassy had the pleasure to visit the Gammarth Higher Institute of Audiovisual and Film Studies (ESAC) and the Higher School of Audiovisual and Design (ESAD) this week, where U.S. filmmaker Linda Mills, visiting Tunisia as part of the American Film Showcase (AFS) program, screened Of Many, her 30-minute documentary of the extraordinary friendship between an orthodox rabbi and an imam, both of whom serve as university chaplains …

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U.S. filmmaker Linda Mills and American Film Showcase (AFS) Representative Alan Baker Spoke at Radio Nationale Tunisienne

U.S. filmmaker Linda Mills and American Film Showcase (AFS) representative Alan Baker were guests of Amani Boulares of Radio Nationale Tunisienne.  Both Ms. Mills and Mr. Baker gave a comprehensive overview about Of Many, a 30-minute documentary screened in ‪‎Tunisia‬ as part of the American Film Showcase program, and expressed their excitement at the opportunity …

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MLKJ 2015 Video Contest

Martin Luther King, Jr. Video Contest 2015 “Volunteering” UPDATE – March 31, 2015 U.S. Embassy Tunis thanks all those who participated in the #MLKJ2015  contest. Each contestant deserves recognition for the effort and commitment he showed in creating a video. We received a number of amazing entries, but three videos really stood out for their originality, …

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Lebanese American Writer, Artist, and Actress Leila Buck Conducted a Workshop at the Youth Complex in Sfax

Lebanese American writer, artist, and actress Leila Buck conducted a workshop at the Youth Complex in Sfax for primary school teachers on the role of performing arts in education.  Fifty-five teachers enthusiastically participated in the interactive event, conducted in Arabic and French.  A participatory approach enabled attendees to grasp the importance of dramatic arts education in …

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