BRISTOL, R.I., July 2008 – In mid-July at Roger Williams University, 20 educators from the Middle East and North Africa and seven American teachers created a huge, colorful sculpture with approximately 50 southern New England students as a part of the inaugural Collaborative Art Initiative program. The program was developed jointly by the University of the Middle East Project and Roger Williams University.

On Thursday, July 24, at 6:30 p.m., Roger Williams University will host a dedication ceremony honoring the completed sculpture. Shamil Idriss, acting director of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, will be the keynote speaker. RWU President Roy J. Nirschel and UME President Hala Taweel are also scheduled to speak. The ceremony will be held at RWU's School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation.

On July 16, participants spent an entire day in the University’s Recreation Center creating the sculpture. First, they collaborated in small groups and painted colorful images on hundreds of small squares of white muslin. In the afternoon, participants decoupaged the squares onto a 12 x 7 x 6-foot canvas-covered wooden structure. The sculpture—plastered with drawings including rainbows, candles and peace symbols—will be permanently installed in the Sculpture Garden located on the RWU campus.

Mark Cooper, renowned artist and instructor at Boston College, led participants in the art-making process. Youths from the following local organizations participated: RiverzEdge Arts Project in Woonsocket, R.I., Rhode Island Indian Council and Providence Academy of International Studies.

The creation of the sculpture, aimed at promoting cross-cultural dialogue, is one component of the two-and-a-half week CAI program, which emphasizes the educational and social value of collaborative art to foster peace, understanding and self-expression. After the program is complete, participants will replicate the collaborative art process in their own schools and communities.

In March 2009, the CAI program will reverse the exchange and send 10 American teachers to Jordan and Morocco to work with Middle Eastern and North African youths on similar projects, which will also be displayed in public spaces.