Night of Ideas - DC

Villa Albertine is pleased to present the Night of Ideas one evening of high-level panels, artistic performances, and civic dialogue at the NYU Washington DC will bring together leading French, American, and Libanese thinkers to reflect on the legacy of the Enlightenment and the democratic challenges of the next 250 years.

The place

The New York University Washington, D.C. site is an academic center dedicated to study away programs, internships, and research activities connected to federal institutions. Located in downtown Washington, it provides direct access to government agencies, international organizations, and think tanks. Students take courses taught by NYU faculty and working professionals. The academic program includes lectures, meetings with policymakers, and institutional visits. The site features classrooms and spaces suitable for hosting events, meetings, and public discussions.

The Brademas Center of NYU : Inspired by its founder, former Congressman and NYU President Emeritus, the John Brademas Center of New York University pursues a collection of initiatives in the areas which formed the core of John Brademas' life in public service: the state of Congress and the legislative process in democracies; the shifting dynamics in foreign policy and international affairs; and, the present state and future prospects for higher education, the humanities, arts and culture. With a growing reputation as a home for informed and civil debate on politics, public policy and other major issues facing the nation and global community—the Brademas Center undertakes programs at NYU's campuses in New York City and Washington, D.C., and increasingly around NYU’s global networ.

Our program:

First Panel : The Museum of the Future moderate by Aviva Rosenthal Director of Smithsonian’s Office of Global Affairs. This panel will welcome as a guests Aurélie Clémente-Ruiz Director of the Musée de l’Homme, Elizabeth Merrit Strategic Foresight & Founding Director Center for the Future of Museums, Taline Balodian Co-Director of the Beirut Museum of Art in Lebanon and Whitney McGuire our Guest of Honor

The first panel of the evening, The Museum of the Future, explores how museums have evolved over the past 250 years. From Enlightenment-era cabinets of curiosity to public institutions, they have become spaces for education, dialogue, and civic engagement.

Today, this transformation is closely tied to environmental concerns. Museums are rethinking their practices reflecting a growing commitment to ecological responsibility.

Second Panel : What Does It Mean to Be Human Today ? moderate by Nina Maturu. This panel will welcome as a guests Lotfi Aoulad Specialist of education and curation, UNESCO, Mark Anthony Thomas President & CEO, Greater Baltimore Committee, Jeremy Walsh Chief AI Officer at the FDA, Specialist in AI and its impact on health, Alex T. Johnson Senior Fellow and Co-Founder of the Global Futures Collaborative and Whitney McGuire our Guest of Honor

This second panel, What Does It Mean to Be Human Today?, explores how we define humanity in 2026, in the context of America250.

Rooted in the legacy of the Enlightenment, this reflection highlights the enduring importance of reason, freedom, and dignity in shaping democratic societies. Today, these principles must be reexamined in a rapidly changing world marked by technological acceleration and growing fragmentation.

This panel will be accompanied by music and artistic performances by students from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and the Peabody Institute, along with a performance by the Association Friendship Place. We will also have the pleasure of screening Last Broadcast from Earth by Lisa Russell.

During the event, guests will have the opportunity to explore a virtual exhibition on the American Revolution, presented by Histovery, offering an immersive and educational experience. In addition, attendees will enjoy a tasting of traditional Lebanese cuisine, organized as part of the Francophonie programming and in honor of welcoming Ms. Taline Aynilian Boladian.

For more information, visit the Night of Ideas website

Photos: By registering for this event, you consent to being photographed and/or recorded, and authorize the organizers to use your image and likeness for promotional and archival purposes.

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