For nearly two centuries, Expos – also known as World Fairs – have showcased important scientific, cultural, and architectural achievements – including the telephone, cotton candy, and the Space Needle, among others. The USA Pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai, which ran from October 1, 2021- March 31, 2022, highlighted the rich talent and diversity of the United States through the Youth Ambassadors and Cultural Performers programs.
Through a partnership with the U.S. Department of State, the Global Ties Network brought to life the USA Pavilion’s theme, “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future,” by showcasing our country’s history, energy, and rich geographic and cultural diversity through our citizens.
Global Ties U.S. and our nationwide Network of Community-Based Members recruited 75 Youth Ambassadors representing 37 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, and 310 Cultural Performers from 40 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
The Expo 2020 Dubai Youth Ambassador Program cohort was the most diverse on record, comprised of young people who spoke 24 languages in addition to English and who were affiliated with 79 colleges and universities worldwide.
These Youth Ambassadors and Cultural Performers interacted with more than 1.2 million visitors to the USA Pavilion.
Meet the Youth Ambassadors and learn about their experience.
Learn more about the Cultural Performers
Raising Awareness for Future Expos
Expos are essential public diplomacy platforms for the United States, and it is critical that we build more awareness for their support with people in the U.S. and their cities, who may one day host them. A U.S. city has not hosted an Expo since 1984 in New Orleans. Global Ties U.S. partnered with the National Endowment for the Humanities to produce an oral history project on the impact participation in previous Expos had on U.S. citizens. The findings of the project were published in May 2022.
From May to June 2022, 19 Community-Based Members of the Global Ties Network hosted Community Conversations to learn from the U.S.’s past participation and discuss how to revitalize future participation in these mega-global events.
