Building Cultural Bridges
he non-profit event “Building Cultural Bridges” welcomed Dr. Elizabeth Tunstall, Associate Professor of Design Anthropology at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia and an expert widely experienced in industry, education and designing for the community, with an opening lecture “Culture-based Innovation” on her research project with Aboriginal Australian artists. The lecture detailed business-cultural scenarios, and the audience was roused to ask about similar issues they encounter in their work.
As China becomes a global player, the lecture raised awareness of our personal roles at the crossroad between China and other countries.
A silent auction for the Library Project followed, a non-profit organization run by an American to donate libraries to rural school children in China and Asia. CBi’s designer T-shirts with Dun Huang’s UNESCO certified world cultural heritage images of the Buddha’s hand, wall murals and architectural designs were infused with modern interpretations of modern China. Profits from this auction go directly to The Library Project’s funds.
The night’s event exemplified the ubiquitousness of the intercultural world we live in and sensitized us on the appreciation of encounters between different peoples.
Dun Huang, a small town in northwestern China, is an oasis amid the Gobi desert. It was a gateway to and from China on the ancient Silk Road, which carried trade between China, western Asia and India from the 2nd century BC until the 14th century AD. Now it is world renowned for its art treasures that are on display for the world to enjoy and scholars to research.
Click here to see more details about Dun Huang
Dr. Elizabeth (Dori) Tunstall:
Dr. Dori Tunstall is an Associate Professor of Design Anthropology, where coordinates Swinburne’s Masters of Design Program in Design Anthropology—a field that seeks to understand how the processes and artifacts of design help define what it means to be human. She also leads the Cultures-Based Innovation research group, formed out of a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio meeting, and directs the Faculty’s executive education programs.
Click here to download Elizabeth Tunstall’s CV:
Library Project
The Library Project donates libraries to underfinanced schools, community centers and orphanages in Asia.