Within the field of international cooperation, Trace Foundation supports scholars from the People's Republic of China who attend international conferences on subjects that resonate with the foundation's mission, such as the meetings of the International Association of Tibetan Studies, and the annual symposium on Sustainable Development Strategies in Contemporary Tibet at Brandeis University. This allows established and emerging indigenous scholars to have their voices heard alongside those of foreign specialists. The host institution usually selects beneficiaries and distributes funds.

A 2002 grant to the Asian Cultural Council & Henry Street Settlement Arbrons Art Center in New York enabled four artists from Lhasa to participate in an intensive four-month cultural exchange program, which introduced the Tibetan artists to contemporary art in New York City and promoted cultural exchange and understanding.

We have also provided funding for relevant conferences inside China, including a symposium on Kashin-Beck disease organized by Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). On occasion, Trace Foundation contributes to China-wide projects that serve to strengthen and support the development of local communities.

Recent Grants in International Cooperation

Brandeis University
Waltham, Massachusetts

Towards the costs of organizing the second roundtable symposium on Sustainable Development Strategies in Contemporary Tibet, May 4-6 2001. Grant funds supported the attendance at the symposium of participants from the People's Republic of China.

Amount of Support: $5,000

Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)
New York, New York

Towards the costs of organizing a symposium on Kashin-Beck disease and related disorders, held in Beijing in January 1999. This grant was intended primarily to cover the costs of attendance at the symposium of specialist health workers from remote areas of China with a high prevalence of Kashin-Beck disease.

Amount of Support: $30,000

China Development Research Services
Beijing Municipality

For production and distribution of Chinese-language editions of China Development Brief. China Development Research Services distributed at least 500 copies of the periodical free of charge to Chinese institutions, agencies, and individuals.

Amounts of Support: $20,400

Public Media Center
San Francisco, California

For core funding support of the publication of the Chinese- and English-language editions of China Development Brief and the China Development Brief web site. This grant covers one-quarter of China Development Brief's operating expenses over two years.

Amount of Support: $66,000

Ecologia
Hartford, Pennsylvania

For seed capital for a small grants project. This grant was used exclusively as matching funds to attract other donors to support small-scale environmental awareness and NGO-strengthening activities in the People's Republic of China. Ecologia selected the projects that qualified for funding.

Amount of Support: $20,420

Asian Cultural Council & Henry Street Settlement Arbrons Art Center
New York, New York

For four artists from Lhasa to participate in an intensive four-month cultural exchange program; ‘International Cultural Collaborations.’ A partnership of Trace Foundation, The Asian Cultural Council, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, and Henry Street Settlement Abrons Arts Center, the project introduced the Tibetan artists to contemporary art in New York City through exchanges with local artists, arts professionals and arts institutions. The aim was to establish a dialogue between artists of different nationalities to promote understanding and future cultural exchange.

Amounts of Support: Asian Cultural Council $59,300; Henry Street Settlement $12,875

International Association for Tibetan Studies (Via Indiana University Fund and Leiden University Fund)

For participants from China to attend the 8th and 9th Seminars of the International Association for Tibetan Studies in Leiden City, The Netherlands and Indiana, USA, respectively.

Amount of Support: $108,431