Students of American Studies at Black Sea International University are participating in the Smithsonian Institution’s international lecture series

Within the framework of a major international project dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the Independence of the United States, students of the American Studies program at Black Sea International University, together with the Head of the Program and Dean, Prof. Tamar Shioshvili, attended and participated in the first session of a series of online lectures delivered by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

The aim of the course is for American art history professors, through the museum’s outstanding collections, to introduce students to how American history, identity, and culture have been reflected in art across different periods over the 250 years of independence.

In addition, another project dedicated to the United States Declaration of Independence will commence in February 2026. The program will provide students with the opportunity to explore primary sources and original documents related to the Declaration and, through an interactive format, analyze the principles of American democracy, their influence on global democratic movements, and their relevance to the development of democracy in Georgia. By decision of the President of the United States, the 250th anniversary of independence is planned to be commemorated on a large and ceremonial scale, not only within the United States but also internationally.

The event was attended by and featured speeches from Alan S. Purcell, Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy, and Cultural Attaché Ivan Kali.