Well here's something to mix with yr cud. The US State Dept has a small
office that promotes us art overseas (vide website at www.state.gov - go
to "about state" then "art in Embassies") which will probably suggest to
some the bad old days of cultural hegemony etc. But actually, the
program is rather benign - the choices of paintings are not imposed but
rather represent the taste of the ambassador which can be very
surprising.

Artists, all US citizens, lend their works for about three years. In
many cases these works of art are the only tactile US cultural presence
beyond what can be gleaned from satelites, magazines, hollywood, etc.,
in those countries still emerging into the grid.

Virtually every region and style is represented in one or another
embassy. The web page is buried within the huge State Dept site any
isn't all that sexy but information and coordinates useful for those
interested in submitting slides etc are ready at hand.