Connecting with our Global Community
Our Story
Culture-Cross founders Ben Chaffee and Alex Zinn developed Culture-Cross while working as teachers in communities across Asia. With unique access to remote communities, Ben and Alex developed Culture Cross as a practical way to support sustainable income and cultural preservation. Culture-Cross grew with a sense of timeless style and design. Traditional designs found common ground with modern aesthetic and new styles were developed based on ancient designs. Culture-Cross today represents a wide range of jewelry and art from around the world, from the high Himalayas to the jungles of the Maya.
Providing Sustainable Income
The most important part of Culture-Cross is the communities that we work with. These communities make a living through their traditional craft. This not only provides for their communities, but also helps preserve their cultural heritage.
Nepal Earthquake Relief. 2015-2017
Following the catastrophic Earthquake in Nepal in 2015, Culture-Cross communicated directly with the Tibetan artist community in the Kathmandu Valley and immediately mobilized a desperately needed emergency aid package of $10,000. This relief package went directly to help disaster victims in Nepal
Working with Phare Ponleu Selpak 2017 - Today
In January 2017 we travelled to Cambodia to visit Phare Ponleu Selpak or “The Brightness of the Arts”, a non-profit Cambodian association improving the lives of children, young adults, and their families with art schools, educational programs, and social support programs. Phare offers a wide curriculum of art education which provides the children in the surrounding Cambodian countryside with the skills to develop a career in the arts. Students graduating from Phare make an income in music, graphic and fine arts and by travelling the world to share their talents. Culture-Cross financed the rebuilding of the Phare music bulding, which was finally completed in 2020.
November 9, 2020 Update
The Culture-Cross music pavilion is complete!
The Culture-Cross music pavilion is now finished! The children at Phare now have a safe place to learn and practice traditional music. Cambodia and the Phare school have been immensely impacted by Coronavirus, and we are now dedicating our efforts to helping the school survive these difficult times. Our support of the Phare school is now focused on providing the children with adequate food, shelter and education.
Connect With us!
Address:
10 Bee road Savannah GA 31404.
Phone:
(401) 450-4517
Email:
Ben@Culture-Cross.org
Instagram:
@CultureCrossJewelry
