Humanitarian and actor Richard Gere will join Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker for The Creative Journey: Artists in Conversation with the Dalai Lama on Spirituality and Creativity at Emory University Oct. 19. The event is part of the Dalai Lama’s return visit to the Emory campus Oct. 17-19 in his capacity as Presidential Distinguished Professor.

“We are pleased and honored to have an actor and artist of Richard Gere’s stature join this creativity conversation with the Dalai Lama to explore the interplay between spirituality and the arts, areas of focus and distinction at Emory,” says Rosemary Magee, vice president and secretary of the university, and leader of Emory’s “Creativity: Arts and Innovation” strategic initiative.

“The Visit 2010” marks the first return of the Dalai Lama to Emory since 2007. His visit this year is part of the continued outgrowth of the Emory-Tibet Partnership, which was founded in 1998 to bring together the best of Western and Tibetan Buddhist intellectual traditions.

The Creative Journey takes place Tuesday, Oct. 19 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Woodruff P.E. Center on the Emory campus. To purchase tickets and for more information visit www.dalailama.emory.edu.