ArtBridge

In 2008, a group of six emerging and mid-career Iranian photographers visited the United States to participate in ArtBridge (pol-e honari, in Persian), a unique exchange program coordinated by International Arts & Artists. The aim of this one-of-a-kind exchange was to establish relationships and networking opportunities between American and Iranian visual artists and arts professionals, and to promote mutual knowledge and cultural awareness in the two countries. A principal focus of ArtBridge was to explore the role of the arts in local communities in the United States and Iran.

During their three-week visit to the United States, the photographers traveled to Charleston, SC, Washington, DC, and New York, NY. The artists attended workshops that examined the history of art in cultural hubs, held roundtable discussions, and went on visits to artists’ studios, galleries, museums, universities, and other cultural organizations. The program culminated in The Burden of Representation: Contemporary Iranian Photography, an exhibition of the artists’ work at IA&A at Hillyer (previously Hillyer Art Space). The ArtBridge exchange proved to be a visit full of dynamic interactions, new experiences, and exposure to varying perspectives.