US Consulate Kolkata and Theatre Alliance with NGO Contact Base present 'A Global Idea'

The performance was a culmination of a two-week cross-border Arts Envoy residency workshop. 

Twenty artists and community leaders from four countries – U.S., India, Nepal and Bangladesh - collaborated to create and develop the play inspiring conversations about what inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility mean on the global stage.

In his welcome remarks,  American Center Director Adrian Pratt said, “This Arts Envoy production is funded by U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) bringing together key youth artists, influencers, and community leaders from U.S. India, Nepal and Bangladesh to this very city that has always been a birthplace of great ideas, great minds, revolutionaries, and revolutions; a dense, convergent flux of diverse ethnicities."

Pratt added, "Today we have come together once again to address a very important issue of our times, strung together in the same thread – Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Accessibility. 

"As we globally grapple with inequalities that have always existed but perhaps became more visible and striking in the last two years, we continue to see how art and artists can create stronger communities- help us understand ourselves, and understand each other on a deeper level.”

The goal of the project was to use diverse art forms to foster youth partnerships and leadership to facilitate meaningful dialogue within varied communities and populations, to celebrate diverse identities, stories, and experiences.

The Arts Envoy program was funded jointly by U.S. Consulate Kolkata and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural affairs (ECA) of U.S. State Department and implemented by local non-profit Contact Base in partnership with D.C.-based Theater Alliance.

Led by Theater Alliance’s Producing Artistic Director Raymond O. Caldwell, the Arts Envoy included lead artists Johamy Morales (Director of Education, Seattle Children’s Theatre) and Ariel Warmflash (Community Programs Director, The In[heir]itance Project).

They bring with them a group of Theater Alliance’s young artists, including Olivia Dorsey, Ezinne Elele, Cristina Ibarra, Alissa Klusky, and Kayla Warren.

After their residency at the Kolkata American Center and a premier performance at the iconic Victoria Memorial, the participants will tour three cities in northern West Bengal – Siliguri, Darjeeling and Kalimpong and conclude with a finale in Kolkata on Nov 11.