Bridging the 49th Parallel: A Case Study in Art as Cultural Diplomacy

Abstract

A forgotten experiment in the history of Canadian cultural diplomacy initiatives, 49th Parallel: Centre for Contemporary Canadian Art employed fine art to teach Americans about Canada in the 1980s. Ostensibly a commercial gallery in New York, 49th Parallel was a pilot project of the Canadian government’s Department of External Affairs. I argue that it provides a rich case study for examining the potential of cultural diplomacy projects, as well as their challenges. Tracing the gallery’s institutional trajectory (1981–1992), I assess 49th Parallel in relation to Canadian cultural diplomacy programmes, identifying three specific periods of administration. I argue for the need to consider the lessons derived from 49th Parallel’s history, suggesting the relevance of this model in the context of the Canadian government’s 2015 commitment to reboot Canada’s public diplomacy.