Advisory Councils
Expertise at the Highest Level
HICD USA draws on the guidance of distinguished councils spanning academia, science, art, music, theater, dance, film, museum partnerships, and sports.
Bridging Past and Present
Academic Advisory Council
The backbone of a cultural organization is the expertise and focused exploration of the past, its relevance to the present, and impact upon the future. Whether through research, lecture, workshop, or publications, the HICD Academic Advisory Council actively fills the crucial educational component bridging the US and Greece. A regular feature of HICD-USA programming will be academic panels, lectures, workshops, and book reviews featuring top academics in the US and Greece.
Dr. Tim Winters
Austin Peay State University
Dr. Glen Bugh
Virginia Tech
Dr. Tom Gallant
University of California, San Diego
Where STEM Meets the Ancient World
Science Advisory Council
Whether online or in-person, HICD followers will be able to access scientific lectures, workshops, exhibitions, and timely book reviews and, on occasion, meet leading authorities. Discoveries between the Arts and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) will be actively pursued and presented. On June 4th, 2021, HICD-USA joined board member Kecia Ray of K20Connect in celebrating the opening of the Antikythera Mechanism exhibit at the Parthenon in Nashville — the culmination of a visionary conversation with Dr. Xenophon Moussas begun two years prior.
2,500 Years of Aesthetic Standards
Art Advisory Council
Over 2,500 years ago, the Greeks established the standards for aesthetics in Art and Architecture. There is no limit to the opportunities of HICD to reflect upon that impact on American artistic standards, to unite with artists across Greece in celebrating that rich tradition, and to engage audiences of both countries with innovative and rising artists. One area of focus is Nashville's full-scale Parthenon — celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2022 — and the iconic 42-ft statue of Athena by sculptor Alan LeQuire.
Music IS Cultural Diplomacy
Music Advisory Council
Music opens doors and forges relationships in ways recognized by all — from the British Invasion of pop and rock music, to the Three Tenors expanding opera's appeal, to the universal spread of Motown, Country, Folk, and Rap. New sounds, ancient songs, and innovative arrangements create excitement for audiences across generations and cultures. Nashville soprano Tyler Samuel's performance at the Parthenon beautifully exemplifies this spirit.
Tyler Samuel performs 'There is a Balm in Gilead' at the Parthenon — HICD-USA Greek Bicentennial, 2021
The Cradle of Theater
Theater Advisory Council
Name five playwrights before 4th and 5th century Greece — it is an impossible challenge. Greece gave the world a body of playwrights still studied and performed today, established the arrangement and vocabulary of the stage still in use, and provided the universal themes and scaffolding used by playwrights from Shakespeare to the present. The HICD Theater Advisory Council will explore and amplify those rich connections across time and culture.
Richard Northcutt performs President James Monroe's 1822 Address in support of the Greek War of Independence
Movement as a Bridge Between Nations
Dance Advisory Council
Led by Meg Brooker of Duncan Dance South, the Dance Advisory Council was making connections and abuzz with collaborative ideas before HICD had even officially launched. The natural tendency — evidenced almost from birth — is to dance. Through performance and workshops, the HICD Dance Council is a dynamic wing of the organization and a beautiful bridge with Greece, strengthening US–Greek collaborations across dance styles.
Meg Brooker
Artistic Director, Duncan Dance South · Chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance at The University of Alabama
Visual Storytelling Across Cultures
Film & Photography Advisory Council
The special cultural and educational appeal of still photography, film, and innovative techniques such as autonomous drones and dual-camera 3D virtual reality will be explored. The ease with which photographs and film can be exchanged and exhibited between the US and Greece opens new avenues for film festivals and exhibitions. HICD offers opportunities for filmmakers and photographers to present creative works — including Belmont University student Dev Bhavsar's documentary short, 'Lost History of the Parthenon.'
"Lost History of the Parthenon" — Documentary short by Dev Bhavsar, Belmont University
Repositories of Shared Heritage
Museum Advisory Council
As repositories of so much of the world's art and cultural heritage, museums in the US and Greece provide the stage for many of the exchanges between the two nations. From art and science to history and music, HICD actively pursues exhibitions launched and rigorously completed, building bridges of friendship and greater understanding. HICD's inaugural Greece-to-Nashville museum connection was the Antikythera Mechanism exhibit at the Parthenon.
Antikythera Mechanism — Nashville Parthenon Exhibit
From Olympia to the World Stage
Sports Advisory Council
Sport is among the oldest and most enduring expressions of Hellenic civilization. The Olympic Games — born in Olympia in 776 BC — were not merely athletic contests but sacred festivals uniting the Greek world in a shared pursuit of excellence, fair competition, and human achievement. That spirit traveled through the centuries and found modern expression in Athens in 1896, when the first modern Olympic Games restored what ancient Greece had gifted to humanity. Today, Greek athletes compete at the highest levels of international sport — from the Olympic track to NBA courts, European football pitches, and beyond. The HICD USA Sports Advisory Council explores sport as a living dimension of cultural diplomacy — a space where competition, identity, and friendship between nations meet.
Interested in Joining an Advisory Council?
HICD USA welcomes nominations for advisory council positions from qualified individuals committed to Hellenic cultural diplomacy.
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