Williamsburg Circle of International Arts and Letters: Public Relations Release

Williamsburg Circle Logo

Yesterday, I received from the Williamsburg Art and Historical Center its official public relations release on the Williamsburg Circle of International Arts and Letters, whose logo you see above, and since I'm a member of this circle, I feel that I should pass along the release:

THE WILLIAMSBURG CIRCLE OF INTERNATIONAL ARTS AND LETTERS

For Immediate Release

February 1, 2012

In January 2012 the WAH Center created a new program called the Williamsburg Circle of International Arts and Letters. It is composed of twelve outstanding scholars, publishers, collectors, artists and innovators (see complete member list).

We believe that a strong education in the classical humanities is a fundamental prerequisite for good citizenship in every country in the world today. What is Classical Humanities? It is nothing less than the spiritual, ethical and intellectual foundation for Western culture. Classics is a vibrant, interdisciplinary field that lies at the heart of the liberal arts. It is the lack of a common heritage and common values that gives rise to basic conflicts among peoples. A broad education in the classical humanities can bring about a common understanding and a common set of values.

As many of you know, the WAH Center's motto is "Peace, Harmony and Unity," as Yuko Nii, the Founder, has written in the Bridge Concept upon which she founded the institution.

INVITATION: We also welcome you to the very first of Our Events on April 14th, 2012 where you can meet our chairman Dr. Robert J. Wickenheiser, 19th President of St. Bonaventure University, and learn more about our goals and projects.

If you would like to contribute to our worthy goals, we would very much appreciate your support at our inception. If you are a scholar or artist and contribute $50 yearly as a supporting member, we will list your name with your discipline and contact information (and web-site, if you have one) on a special supporting member page. Click here for benefits:

Supporting Professional Scholars, Writers and Artists

We would very much like to get your feedback on our project! Terrance Lindall and Yuko Nii

Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, New York

Those who are interested in being supporting members can click on the link provided (or here), and those who simply wish to know more can click here.

I should perhaps note a couple of points. First, I won't be able to make a New York trip for the Our Events program scheduled for April 14th, which I'm sure is very disappointing to all my readers, but work and finances constrain me. Second, I'd like to note that while our international circle of members are primarily in the Western tradition, as is the fundamental focus on the Classical Humanities (Classics in Humanities?), our interests encompass more than that (cf Yuko Nii's Bridge Concept). Personally, I sense that a world civilization is emerging, one powerfully influenced by the West but drawing from various civilizations. This process will take a while, however, and not everyone is pleased by these developments, as we know from many of my blog posts.

Mutual understanding based on a common system of values drawn from a common heritage will therefore take some time to develop, but perhaps the Williamsburg Circle of International Arts and Letters can play a small part in that very large, long-term process.