The Embassy of Croatia welcomes visitors during the 2024 EU Open House. Photo by Stephen Staudigl for Diplomatica Global Media.
The tradition of embassies opening their doors to their neighbors dates back at least to the 1950s, when diplomatic teas were held as charity fundraisers, and as a measure of goodwill. Reported accounts from the time show these gatherings were prompted less by a means of forming bilateral relations between governments, and more as a means to appease the local neighborhood commissions, which were notoriously displeased when an embassy or consulate moved to the area.
Now a massive event that attracts tens of thousands of people from throughout the mid-Atlantic region, Passport DC is a monthlong celebration that encompasses Around the World Embassy Tour, EU Open House, Fiesta Asia, and more. And Diplomatica has the complete guide to getting the most out of all of it.
This year’s Dutch Tulip Days celebrated the friendship between the US and the Netherlands at the end of World War II, the flowers in Anne Frank’s short life, the American Military Cemetery in the Netherlands, and our very own Rosie the Riveter, Lise Howe reports.
Luis Angel, an internationally recognized Argentine tango expert, performer, historian, and instructor, recently brought the elegance and intensity of traditional tango to the U.S. Senate. The performance was made possible through the sponsorship of the Embassy of Uruguay, which supported the event as part of its public diplomacy efforts.
Thursday, May 1 · 6 - 8pm EDT. The Embassy of the Slovak Republic will be holding a reception for the opening of a solo show of abstract art and multimedia by Andrea Ehret. RSVP.
Monday, May 5 · 4 - 6pm EDT. The Embassy of the Netherlands’s annual Freedom Concert at the Netherlands Carillon returns for the fourth year. This fan favorite is a must-attend. More information.
Thursday, May 8 · 6:30 - 8:30pm EDT. The Japan Information and Culture Center is hosting Trey Trahan of Trahan Architects for a discussion on how Japanese art and culture inspired the design of the USA Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. RSVP.
Tuesday, May 20 · 6:30 - 8:30pm EDT. Spanish flutist Irene Mata Tejero will perform at the Spanish Cultural Center as part of the Spanish Young Music Talents series. More information.
Thursday, May 29 · 5 - 7pm EDT The Consulate General of Argentina in New York presents "Intangible Landscapes", by Mirta Gendin and curated by Carla Rey. RSVPs required. Space limited.
Worth noting: The Consulate General of India San Francisco offers free lunchtime yoga classes every Wednesday. More information.
May is “Get Caught Reading” month in the United States and Great Reads from Around the World now features recommendations from nearly fifty embassies, spanning all genres. Explore fiction, non-fiction, poetry, graphic novels, children’s literature and more, as well as selections in Czech, German, Polish, Spanish, and more. As always, if your country is not represented, please get in touch.
What We’re Reading Now: AI Diplomacy: Insights and Innovations from the Bilateral Navigator by Ambassador Sinisa Grgic PhD. Exploring the AI arms race, the role that AI will play in negotiations and peacekeeping, the future of AI governance and more, this comprehensive read from Ambassador Grgic is a compelling look at the future of artificial intelligence, and a reminder that it’s already arrived.
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