A belief that underlies all Cloud Foundation programs is that an open world—- one where young people communicate across cultural barriers—- is a better world. Art allows youth to do this in a profound way by appealing to aesthetic values that serve as a universal language.

With this in mind, the Cloud Foundation works closely with our sister foundation, Nuage-France. Each summer, the Cloud Foundation sends a group of young artists from Boston to Paris to perform in a city cultural program, meet French peers, and understand themselves in a new way through the vast cultural resources of Paris. Students participate in local activities, make art or perform with peer groups, visit museums and art festivals, take part in workshops with local artists, and try their hand—- or stomachs!—- at French cuisine.

Likewise, each fall, Nuage sends a group of young artists from Paris to Boston. This fall, the Cloud Foundation will host Indans'Cité, a youth dance troupe from Aubervilliers at our annual Crossing Cultures Event.

2007 City Stage Co.'s Teen Stages troupe
City Stage Co. offers urban children, youth and families opportunities to participate in the performing arts in order to make discoveries about themselves and the world. City Stage's Teen Stages troupe traveled to France for 8 days, met and worked with French teen performance groups, and saw the sights of Paris.  The teens created and presented an original play based on Pyramus & Thisbe which debuted in Paris at the Festival des Bergers. While in Paris, Teen Stages troupe members collaborated in performances and workshops with French teens including teen improvisation group Déclic, 2004 Exchange Grant recipients Les Bergers, and 2006 Exchange Grant recipients Indans’ Cité.

2006 Urban Essence, a dance troupe of the American Friends Service Committee
Urban Essence of the American Friends Service Committee has become one of the most sought after dance troupes in the region.  Known for their multi-cultural choreographies and colorful wardrobe, Urban Essence combines elements of Merengue, Salsa, Reggaeton, Capoiera, Hip-Hop, B-Boy, and Bellydance into each performance. While in Paris Urban Essence worked with French dance troupes Compagnie Resonances and Indans'Cite and performed before a multi-national audience at the Paris World Music Festival in AuberVilliers.  

2005 Raw Art Works Real 2 Reel Film School
Raw Art Work's Digital Film Program teaches students the responsibilities of preparing, shooting, and finishing a film, and asks them explore who they are, exposing their identities (individually and as a group) to the world. Students from Real 2 Reel enjoyed a lively trip to Paris and created an original documentary film highlighting their experiences and exposing French and American stereotypes.

2004 Hyde Square Task Force Ritmo en Accion
Ritmo en Accion was formed in 2002 by a group of Hyde Square teens who voiced the need for a youth dance group in their community. This summer, Ritmo en Accion brought their flair for Latin dance to France, where they collaborated with a French salsa group and several other student dance troupes in Paris. The trip was a great success as the students from Ritmo enjoyed crossing cultural boundaries through dance.

2003 Dot Art
Dot Art, based in Dorchester, visited Paris last summer as part of Cloud's cultural exchange program. Dot Art students collaborated with young Parisian artists to create two murals on the topic of city life, comparing experiences for teenagers in Boston and Paris. Participants were thrilled with their immersion in the French lifestyle and were inspired to take their art to new levels.

2002 Artists for Humanity
Artists for Humanity is a Boston-based youth arts group whose mission is to bridge economic, racial, and social divisions through artistic creation. While in Paris, AFH worked with French art students to create “"Lingua Franca," a collaborative mural drawing on the theme of communication and dialect.