MADISON – Global Ties Alabama is collaborating other agencies to identify Youth Ambassadors and Cultural Performers to represent the United States at the next World’s Fair, Expo 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates or UAE.

Global Ties Alabama is a nonprofit partner of the U.S. Department of State.

To complete the U.S. Pavilion at Expo 2020, Global Ties Alabama is partnering with Global Ties U.S.; State Department; and Thinkwell Group. “Through our grassroots Global Ties Network, we will identify Youth Ambassadors and Cultural Performers … for a global stage, creating a memorable and substantive experience for all expo visitors,” Global Ties Alabama CEO Jacquelyn Shipe said.

Expo 2020 Dubai is the first World’s Fair in the Middle East. With 192 countries hosting pavilions, Expo 2020 Dubai will unveil the inventions, ideas and inspirations that have potential for future change. UAE projects its citizens to account for 30 percent of visitors, while 70 percent will travel from other countries.

Global Ties U.S. is accepting applications for Youth Ambassadors, who must be U.S. citizens from 18-29 years old, as U.S. Pavilion guides. “These energetic, friendly individuals will serve as the faces of the United States to millions of expo visitors,” Shipe said. “They will provide a human connection to the United States and its territories and reflect its geographic and cultural diversity.”

The ideal Youth Ambassador is multilingual in English and either Arabic, Mandarin, Farsi, Hindi, Russian or Urdu. Other useful language skills are Bengali, French and Spanish. “While an asset, language abilities are not an application requirement for Youth Ambassadors,” Shipe said.

In addition, Cultural Performers will present talents in dance, music, theater, literature, visual art, food, sports, spoken word and other arts. Officials will select U.S. performers to represent their region as ambassadors of U.S. culture.

“These performers will provide a program at the U.S. Pavilion that embodies geographic and cultural richness, tells the story of the United States and engages expo visitors,” Shipe said. Global Ties U.S. will select approximately 390 Cultural Performers for Dubai to visit up to seven days.

Global Ties Alabama’s office address is 555 Sparkman Drive NW, Building 800, Suite 800 in Huntsville. For more information, call 256-532-3560 or visit globaltiesus.submittable.com/submit.