The United States Embassy in Liberia on Wednesday May 21, 2014 conducted an art program named Art In Embassies Unveiling of Commissioned Sculptures at its Benson Street, Monrovia residence.

During the unveiling program, the US Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Madam Deborah Malac said the United States of America has incorporated Liberian arts here and other countries in its art programs. She described the program as a significant one.

Ambassador Malac reveals that the ceremony marking the unveiling outside the Main Gate of the U.S. Embassy of the War Memorial was commissioned from Jallah Kollie, a Liberian Scuptor, and one of four sculptures inside the Embassy Compound by two U.S. Sculptors, Peter winant and Tom Ashcraft.

Amb. Malac says the Art In Embassies was established in 1962, the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Art In Embassies (AIE) plays a vital role in America’s public diplomacy through a culturally expansive mission, creating temporary exhibitions and permanent collections, artist and cultural exchange programming and publications.

According to Ambassador Malac, the Museum of Modern Art first envisioned this global visual arts program a decade earlier. In the early 1960s, President John F. Kennedy formalized it, naming the program’s first director: “These exhibitions provide international audiences with a sense of the quality, scope, and diversity of both countries’ art and culture, establishing AIE’ presence in more countries than any other U.S. foundation or arts organization.”

Making remarks, the Acting Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Madam Una Kumba Thompson said on Wednesday April 30, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs witnessed a US-Embassy sponsored Musical Jazz by local artists in celebration of International Jazz Day, why on May 10, 2014 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also participated in the US-Embassy sponsored Semi-Annual Arts and Crafts Fair which brought together about 121 vendors selling everything from African masks and furniture, clothing and hand bags made of lappa and country cloth, beaded jewelry made of recycled glass, metal sculptures made from deconstructed gun, bullets and hand grenades and intricately wooden baskets to plates of Liberian, Ethiopian, Thai and European cuisines.

The Acting Foreign Minister further noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is thrilled by these initiatives of the US-Embassy in recent time, especially erecting a War Memorial in the front of the Embassy, the handiwork of a Liberian which not only showcase Liberian Arts and Crafts and local artists but also demonstrates U.S. preparedness to promote nationally and internationally local jazz and arts & crafts in Liberia.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, the Government and people of Liberia, she expressed heartfelt gratitude to Ambassador Malac and entire US-Embassy family for these worthy undertakings. She then conveyed through Ambassador Malac to the Government and people of the United States of America her many thanks for their continued support for their many inspiring programs and activities in Liberia.

Among those attending the unveiling program were Rev. Kortu Brown-1^st Vice president, Liberian Council of Churches, Aljaji Imam Dauda Nyei-Chief Imam, Duala Mosque, Ambassador George Oppong Weah amongst others.