HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases...U.S. Department of State Announces 2024 Spring Season of Next Level hide U.S. Department of State Announces 2024 Spring Season of Next Level Media Note Office of the Spokesperson February 1, 2024 The U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce the 10th anniversary season of the Next Level international exchange program is underway. A key part of the United States’ Global Music Diplomacy Initiative, Next Level sends American aerosol artists, beatboxers, beatmakers, dancers, DJs, and MCs to engage audiences globally through hip hop with an aim to promote peace and democracy namely through conflict resolution in communities around the globe. The Global Music Diplomacy Initiative, launched by Secretary of State Antony Blinken in September 2023, aims to promote peace and democracy through music, and supports broader U.S. foreign policy goals to expand access to education, economic opportunity and equity, and societal inclusion. With the 2024 season already underway including workshops for underserved youth in Costa Rica, Olympic-focused programming in France, and a 10th anniversary event in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, American artists will teach and perform in nearly every region of the world during this spring season. Next Level is implemented through a cooperative agreement with Meridian International Center and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The 2024 Next Level spring season includes: Limón, Costa Rica Dance: Kara Jenelle (Los Angeles, CA) MC: Queena Bergen (New Brunswick, NJ) Beatmaker: Rokmore (Houston, TX) Beatboxer: Exacto (New York, NY) Paris, France Dance: Ken Fury (New York, NY) MC: Def-i (Albuquerque, NM) DJ: Amore Querida (New York, NY) Aerosol: Danielle Mastrion (New York, NY) Taoyuan, Taiwan Dance: Dez (Washington, DC) MC: Rah Digga (Newark, NJ) DJ: Rugged One (Somerville, MA) Aerosol: Jurne (Oakland, CA) Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Dance: Lady Beast (Boston, MA) MC: Dee-1 (Boston, MA) DJ: Nick Neutronz (New York, NY) Beatmaker: Krithi (New York, NY) Auckland, New Zealand Dancer: Lady Sol (Chicago, IL) MC: Dior Brown (Washington, DC) Beatmaker: SlopFunkDust (Tampa, FL) Aerosol: MAST (San Francisco, CA) For more information on the United States’ global efforts to promote peace and democracy through music, contact eca-press@state.gov. Tags Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Costa Rica Democracy Education France Music Diplomacy New Zealand Office of the Spokesperson Peace Taiwan Zimbabwe