Compiled by Parker Lamothe, Communications Associate, Global Ties U.S.
Editor’s note: In May 2026, International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) participants from Belarus traveled to South Carolina, Louisiana, and Iowa to explore freedom of expression and its role in driving American innovation and prosperity. In addition to programming in Washington, DC on principles, policies, and strategies behind the United States’ dynamic creative economy, the international professional leaders experienced how entrepreneurship and the free exchange of ideas drive local economic opportunity. Three Global Ties Network Community-Based Member organizations arranged these programs. Read the stories below.
South Carolina
Snapshot by Sewell Gelberd, Columbia World Affairs Council
In South Carolina, international leaders on this IVLP explored how freedom of expression supports economic growth and innovation through engagements with public and private cultural sector leaders who have successfully created jobs, attracted tourism, and strengthened economic prosperity and investment in local communities. The IVLP participants began their six-day visit with a Saturday morning trip to Columbia’s vibrant Soda City Market, where they explored local food vendors, artisans, and craftspeople to experience firsthand how creative and innovative enterprises contribute to the local economy.
On Sunday, the group traveled to Charleston, where they toured the historic city, enjoyed traditional Southern cuisine, and visited sites connected to both the American Revolution and the Civil War—particularly significant as the United states commemorates its 250th anniversary.
During the week, these international leaders in their respective fields engaged with a variety of local arts and cultural organizations. A visit to the Cayce Arts District included a meeting with Mayor Elise Partin, who highlighted how the city of Cayce has used public art as a driver of economic revitalization, placemaking, and tourism. The visitors were also impressed by the Arts and Media Department at Richland Library, which offers arts education, creative resources, and an Artist-in-Residence program. Additional meetings provided valuable insights into public-private partnerships that support creative industries and community development.
Perhaps the highlight of the program was a workshop led by David Cutler, Ph.D., who challenged participants to think about innovation and entrepreneurship using humor, creativity, and experiential learning. The session explored how creative value can be identified, packaged, and marketed to support sustainable artistic and cultural ventures.
The visiting international leaders also joined a dozen local community members for a home hospitality dinner, forming meaningful connections through shared experiences, warm conversations, Southern hospitality, and excellent food.
The Columbia World Affairs Council has hosted many exceptional programs, but this one stands out as one of my personal favorites. I especially looked forward to the visit because I wanted to learn more about Belarus, the country where my maternal grandparents were born. The stories and best practices shared between our community members and the visitors emphasized how artistic and cultural freedom not only enriches society but also serves as a powerful driver of economic opportunity and innovation. Spending time with this remarkable group reaffirmed the essential role of connection, creativity, and innovation in driving progress and prosperity.
Louisiana
Snapshot by Chelsea R. Brauwn, Global New Orleans
Throughout their time in Louisiana, the Belarusian IVLP group encountered a community where culture is not viewed as a luxury, but as a catalyst for economic growth. The international professional leaders examined the role that state and local government policies and programs play in attracting and enhancing creative economic value and protecting intellectual property in creative industries.
The founders of the Ella Project, an organization that provides free legal advice to musicians and other artists, demonstrated how organizations can advance the creative economy through entrepreneurial support. At the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, the international leaders learned how initiatives such as the Don “Moose” Jamison Heritage School of Music and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival help develop the next generation of musicians while preserving Louisiana’s rich cultural traditions, demonstrating how investment in arts education can strengthen both cultural heritage and economic opportunity.
Complementary discussions with the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, the New Orleans Office of Cultural Economy, and Film New Orleans examined how public-sector investments, policy frameworks, and strategic partnerships can help creative industries flourish. Together, these conversations reinforced a broader understanding that freedom of expression is not simply a civic value; it is also an economic engine. The ability to publish, perform, design, invent, and communicate openly creates the conditions necessary for innovation, investment, and opportunity.
Our visitors had an impromptu meet and greet with Greg Lambousy, Executive Director of the New Orleans Jazz Museum. They also visited the National World War II Museum, where exhibits provided a powerful historical complement to the project’s contemporary focus on creative freedom and innovation.
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, programs like this remind us that one of America’s enduring strengths is its willingness to welcome dialogue, exchange ideas, and encourage community engagement. From local artists and community leaders to government officials and entrepreneurs, the individuals who met with this IVLP group demonstrated that innovation flourishes where people are empowered to think freely and engage openly. In that sense, the IVLP reflected not only the story of New Orleans, but a broader American tradition: that the free exchange of ideas remains one of the most powerful drivers of progress and prosperity.
Iowa
Snapshot by Brenda Gao, Global Ties Iowa
Note: This article was republished and adapted with permission by Global Ties Iowa. The article first appeared as a blog on the Global Ties Iowa website.
Photo by Peyton Pangburn, Global Ties Iowa
Over seven days, IVLP participants from Belarus explored how eastern Iowa’s creative sector, cultural institutions, and rural communities foster innovation and economic opportunity. The group included leaders from publishing, cultural management, design, and entrepreneurship.
The first full day of programming began in Fairfield, Iowa at Grow Fairfield Economic Development Association, where the international visitors discussed strategies for attracting and retaining creative businesses in a rural community. Grow Fairfield collaborates with local government, financial institutions, and community partners to drive economic growth in a town of just over 9,400 residents.
After lunch, the group visited the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids for a tour and a discussion on cultural preservation and international partnerships.
Friday’s programming highlighted the intersection of arts, history, and economic development. At Brucemore Museum, the group explored the estate’s adaptive reuse of historic spaces and its role in supporting creative workforce development. They also enjoyed a guided walking tour of the Czech Village and New Bohemian neighborhoods and were introduced to several local entrepreneurs revitalizing the district. The day concluded with a conversation on public-private partnerships, university support for business growth, and the value of handcrafted production in a digital marketplace with the director of entrepreneurship at The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative (NewBoCo).
The visitors also participated in local home hospitality. Said one host, “The time that we spent together was deeply meaningful for everyone. I don’t travel, but this is the next best thing.”
Sunday morning brought a visit to the Land Alliance Farm and Folk School, where the owner led a tour of the farm’s perennial agriculture operations, including elderberries, hazelnuts, chestnuts, and willow cultivation.
The next day, the group enjoyed Bonaparte, a historic riverfront town listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and learned how 19th-century innovation, river access, and freedom of enterprise shaped local economies. The group then traveled to Muscatine where they learned how the Muscatine Arts Council supports local artists through marketing, financing, and community programming.
The final day of programming featured a visit to the Grant Wood Art Colony, where the American painter Grant Wood created American Gothic, and where the group learned how the Colony’s fellowships and programs promote creative workforce development across rural Iowa.
After a final lunch in downtown Iowa City, the IVLP group departed for the airport, closing a week filled with meaningful conversations, professional networking, and new strategic partnerships.