TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona Arts Live, the University of Arizona’s official performing arts presenter, is proud to announce its participation in the final year of Center Stage, the pioneering cultural diplomacy initiative created by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and produced by the New England Foundation for the Arts. For more than a decade, Center Stage has brought extraordinary artists from around the globe to communities across the United States, fostering cultural exchange through performance and dialogue.
This year, the program’s closing season finds its fullest expression right here in Tucson through three extraordinary international ensembles:
Mohamed Abozekry Sextet (Egypt/France) – September 20, The Century Room
Blending Arabic classical traditions with jazz and improvisation, the sextet launches its U.S. tour in Tucson.
Papermoon Puppet Theatre (Indonesia) – October 8–11, Tornabene Theatre
Whimsical and poetic puppetry that transforms the everyday into wonder, concluding their U.S. tour in Tucson.
Kurbasy (Ukraine) – November 13, La Rosa
Powerful vocal harmonies and theatrical flair rooted in Ukrainian folk traditions, closing their U.S. tour in Tucson.
Beyond the stage, each ensemble will spend a week in Tucson, stepping into classrooms, community spaces, and cultural hubs to share their artistry through workshops and conversations. These intimate encounters invite Southern Arizonans to see the world through the eyes of artists living it.
“Center Stage has long demonstrated that cultural diplomacy is one of the most powerful ways to bring people together,” said Chad Herzog, Executive and Artistic Director of Arizona Arts Live at the University of Arizona. “As Center Stage takes its final bow, Tucson will stand as a living example of cultural diplomacy in action, reminding us that stories, songs, and shared experiences connect us in ways politics cannot. Welcoming all three ensembles is both an honor for Tucson and a reflection of our community’s openness to the world.”
Since its inception, Center Stage has hosted nearly 50 ensembles from more than 25 nations, transforming performance spaces into meeting places where people connect across differences. By showcasing artists whose work reflects their homelands while speaking to universal human experiences, the program highlights the vital role of the arts in building mutual understanding.
Arizona Arts Live invites the Tucson community to be part of this historic moment as we celebrate the close of an extraordinary program and affirm the belief that music, movement, and storytelling can transcend borders and build bridges.
Tickets and more information are available at arizonaartslive.com.
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Center Stage is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs with funding provided by the U.S. Government. It is administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts in cooperation with the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations. General management is provided by Lisa Booth Management, Inc. www.centerstageUS.org.
Nestled in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, Arizona Arts Live curates extraordinary live events and arts experiences. A member of the Arizona Arts division at the University of Arizona, Arizona Arts Live brings the world’s greatest artists to Southern Arizona with programming that invites you to think. To feel. To discover thoughtful art and explore the unexpected.