On Sunday April 28, 2019, a symposium was held in Montreal Canada dealing with the unified growth of Cultural optimism and beautiful art and real economic development as it is being manifested today with the New Silk Road in Asia, Africa and beyond. Presentations were given by a pianist, a dancer, and an painter which will uplift and inspire. 

Christine Corey (pianist and lecturer) focuses on the importance of art in both shaping great civilizations of the past and the future alike. The history of African Renaissance civilizations of Ancient Egypt, the Kingdom of Kush and the Yoruba people of Nigeria and Benin are discussed, and a light is shed on what beautiful role Africa can be expected to play in the future if freed from its economic constraints. This unleashing of renaissance potential is something which the New Silk Road intends to do.

Seminar Outline:
-Opening Remarks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjm55TQDWK4
-Presentation 1: Hope and Beauty: The Power of Classical Culture in Shaping the Future by Christine Corey, pianist
-Presentation 2: The New Silk Road and a New Hope for Africa by Matthew Ehret, painter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs4Vq6d6g8o&t=1007s
-Presentation 3: The embrace of dance and optimism in a transformed Kenya by Nicholas Jones, Dancer (La Grande Ballet de Montreal)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE5kJBaPH3I&t=10s
-Remarks by a world citizen on a transformed China 1980-present