Asian/Pacific Islander Events

Thousands of different events are held each year geared towards Asian and Pacific Islanders. Whether they’re music/film/art festivals, events put on by local community organizations, or conferences to build leadership skills, they all seek to continue to break barriers and biases, to promote a sense of community and diversity, as well as build an audience and provide a platform for emerging leaders.

Asian and Pacific Islanders have created numerous platforms to express themselves throughout the United States. With tremendous support, many organizations continue to thrive and can support their local API communities.

After the jump are lists of events occurring throughout the country from July – October. These are only a small sample of the hundreds of events going on every month, put on by Asian/Pacific Islander advocacy/interest/community groups. Check with your local neighborhood and become informed! Be involved, support API efforts, and have fun!


July

32nd Annual Asian American International Film Festival
New York, New York
July 23-July 26
http://www.asiancinevision.org/
Celebrate the longest running film festival dedicated to Asian filmmakers!

BAY 09: 5th Annual Asian Pacific Islander American Spoken Word Poetry Summit
Bay Area, California
July 30-August 2
http://ill-literacy.com/bay09/
Asian Pacific Islander American Spoken Word Poetry Summit is a gathering of spoken word artists, poets, writers, musicians, thespians, activists, organizers, and artists throughout the world who convene based on the commonality of their Asian American, Asian, and/or Pacific Islander identity. Since 2001, the Summit has gathered every two years in a different city in the United States, and for a span for four days engage in workshops, performances, and discussions directed toward the upliftment of the APIA arts and activism community.


August

OCA National Convention
San Francisco, CA
August 6-9
http://www.ocanational.org/
OCA annually holds the largest conference completely dedicated to APA issues every year and has done so since 1973. This year’s theme is ‘A Call to Action: Empowering Asian Pacific American Voices.’


NAAAP National Convention 2009 (National Association of Asian American Professionals)
Denver, Colorado
August 13-16
http://www.naaapconvention.org/2009/
This year’s topic is ‘Leadership at New Heights: Cultivating Leaders for Today and Beyond’. Aligning to NAAAP's vision of "We make leaders!" and further addresses the need for leaders in both the present and the future. For those who are currently in leadership roles, this is an incredible opportunity to refine and add to the tools they have and also mentor to share their experiences with others. For our future leaders, it is an opportunity to build his/her skills, learn from our leaders of today and build a network of support in the future.

An Evening in Asia
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Austin, Texas
August 22
http://naao-austin.org/contents/events/2009/AEIA.htm
A gala event celebrating diversity with a dinner banquet, entertainment, and dance.

Kollaboration Acoustic 3
Ford Amphitheatre
Los Angeles, California
August 22
http://fordtheatres.org/en/events/090822_1930.asp
An evening part American Idol, part open mic, featuring original music from LA’s Asian communities.

Present Tense Biennial: Chinese Character
San Francisco, CA
Through August 23rd
http://presenttense.us/
31 artists reflect and reinterpret contemporary Chinese culture

Na Ali’I: Hawaiian Monarchy
Los Angeles, California
August 29
http://fordtheatres.org/en/events/090829_2030.asp
The compelling saga of monarchs from King Kamehameha to Queen Lili’uokalani, expressed through the eloquent language of hula by Kilohana Dance Company and set to live music by renowned Hawaiian Island musicians.

September

Creating Contemporary Art in Pakistan: A Curator/Artist Roundtable with Salima Hashm
Asia Society
New York, New York
September 10
http://www.asiasociety.org/events-calendar/creating-contemporary-art-pakistan-a-curatorartist-roundtable-salima-hashmi
Guest curator Salima Hashmi joins artist Asma Mundrawala and other artists featured in the exhibition Hanging Fire: Contemporary Art from Pakistan to explore the thriving contemporary art environment in Pakistan and discuss the challenges of producing art in Pakistan today.

Yang Fudon: Seven Intellectuals in a Bamboo Forest
Asia Society
New York, New York
Through September 13
http://sites.asiasociety.org/yangfudong/
In 2003, Yang Fudong produced the first part of his now seminal, five-part film, Seven Intellectuals in a Bamboo Forest. The film poses questions about the dissonance between men and women, individuals and society, the past and present, and reality and an ideal world.

Author Conversation: H.M. Naqvi – Home Boy
Asia Society
New York, New York
September 15
http://www.asiasociety.org/events-calendar/author-conversation-h-m-naqvi-home-boy
Rollicking, bittersweet and sharply observed, Home Boy is at once an immigrant’s tale, a mystery, love story and a New York story as three young Pakistani men come face to face with the aftermath of 9/11. H. M. Naqvi has represented Pakistan in the National Poetry Slam and his poetry has been broadcast on NPR and BBC. Home Boy is his debut novel.

APATure 2009: A Spotlight on Asian Pacific American Art
San Francisco, California
September 17-26
http://www.kearnystreet.org/programs/ksw-next/apature2009/index.html
APAture is an annual multidisciplinary arts festival showcasing the work of emerging Asian Pacific American artists.

San Francisco Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival
September 19-20
San Francisco, California
http://www.sanfranciscochinatown.com/events/moonfestival.html
The Chinatown Merchants Association presents the 19th Annual Autumn Moon Festival September 19-20, 2009 in San Francisco Chinatown. Live entertainment, arts and crafts, food and drink, and parades will mark the Autumn Moon Festival celebrations along historic Grant Avenue from 11am to 6pm.

Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA)
New York, New York
September 22
http://www.mocanyc.org
Celebrate the Museum of Chinese in America’s new location with its grand opening and full exhibition on September 22.

New Trends: Fifteen Contemporary Chinese Artists
Pacific Heritage Museum
San Francisco, California
Through September 26
http://www.ibankunited.com/phm/newtrends.htmlv
Explore China’s expanding art scene through the works of 15 contemporary artists.

October

Corporate Diversity Leo Bar
Asia Society
New York, New York
October 9, 2009 to June 15, 2010
http://www.asiasociety.org/events-calendar/corporate-diversity-leo-bar
Second Friday of the Month: Join fellow Asian and Asian American professionals for some art and ambiance. Expand your circle and connect with peers from other companies.

Dream Dance II: East West Fusion
Ford Amphitheatre
Los Angeles, CA
October 10
http://www.fordtheatres.org/en/events/091010_2000.asp
The classic Chinese dances of the Han/Tang Dynasties create an ideal landscape of ancient elements fused with contemporary styles in a burst of colorful lights, flowing costumes and enchanting sounds.

10th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival
San Diego, California
October 15-29
http://www.sdaff.org/
Join SDAFF in celebrating 10 years of bringing films by Asian Americans to mainstream audiences.

Pakistan under Stress: Battling Terrorism, Maintaining Peace
Asia Society
New York, New York
October 22
http://www.asiasociety.org/events-calendar/pakistan-under-stress-battling-terrorism-maintaining-peace
In recent years, Pakistan has endured tremendous challenges—including militant attacks, high-profile political assassinations, suicide bombings, prolonged political instability, and deteriorating law and order—but is the situation as dire as some claim it to be? Join experts for a discussion on these and other pertinent issues.



Events for these organizations have passed but check them out next year!

Disorient: Asian American Film Festival
Portland, Oregon
www.disorientfilm.org

San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
San Francisco, California
http://festival.asianamericanmedia.org/

New York City Asian American Students Conference
New York, New York
http://www.nycaasc.com/
The New York City Asian American Student Conference is an annual gathering dedicated to promoting awareness of APA issues and history among college students.

Midwest Asian American Students Union
http://www.nycaasc.com/
The Midwest Asian American Students Union (MAASU) was started in response to a need for political unity among Asian American students in the Midwest. Students felt there needed to be an organization that would support the growth of these organizations and organize APA students in the Midwest for political activism, and MAASU was formed to fill this responsibility.

East Coast Asian American Student Union

http://ecaasunational.org/site/

ECAASU is the largest inter-collegiate Asian American student network in the nation. Each year, over 1000 students attend our annual conference to learn and create change.

National Asian American Student Conference
http://www.naascon.org/
Since 2001, NAASCon has been an active Asian American student political organization with the mission of educating, fostering dialogue, and mobilizing students through proactive campaigns on issues facing the Asian American community. NAASCon is an organization created by and for the students. A goal of NAASCon is to serve as a forum for Asian American students, organizations, and regional networks to implement campaigns important to their community.

Kollaboration
Annual talent show held to elevate Asian Pacific Islander talent into the limelight of the music and entertainment industries, showcasing their talents and the community's potential to the world. It is in this endeavor that the barriers and biases will be broken down, and APIs will be able to truly show the boundless talent and dynamics of a powerful community.

Los Angeles
http://www.kollaboration.org/

Chicago
http://www.chikollaboration.org/

New York
http://www.kollaborationnewyork.org/

Toronto
http://www.tdotkollaboration.org/

Atlanta
http://www.kollaborationatl.org/

Washington, D.C.
(no website)