The US Embassy in Tashkent said on 3 October that through the IVLP, the Uzbek artists—Inom Ablakulov, Odilbek Matchanov, Alisher Rakhimov and Firdavs Yusupov—will have the opportunity to learn about the history, presentation, conservation and education of traditional arts in the US and the role they play in American cultural heritage. Additionally, the ceramists will be able to observe the impact of traditional arts on community-building and civic development throughout the country.

In addition to viewing the ceramic facilities at the School of Art and Design, the Uzbeks toured the Inamori Museum of Fine Ceramics and the Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramic Art, both of which are located at Alfred University.

Alfred’s MFA program is consistently ranked number one in the nation by US News and World Report and the School of Art and Design’s ceramic art facilities are considered to be among the best in the country. These facilities include 13 gas fired kilns and 14 electric fired kilns in the main kiln room; three gas fired salt/soda kilns, three raku kilns, 1 two-chamber wood/soda kiln and 1 one-chamber wood kiln in an outdoor kiln area; glaze studios; a clay mixing area; and a main studio area.

Besides Rochester, the artists’ September 6- September 23 visit was comprised of stops at schools, museums and artistic communities in a number of cities around the US: Washington, DC; Baltimore, MD: New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; and Santa Fe, NM.

The IVLP has existed since 1940 and is run by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Annually, it sponsors more than 4,000 International Visitors, who are nominated for the program and are current or emerging leaders in government, politics, the media, education, the arts, business and other important fields.