Asian Arts Initiative

Saturday, October 24, 3-5PM 📚 Come celebrate the launch of a new children’s book by MIchelle Myers (Michelle Myers), 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙈𝙚 𝙖 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙈𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙍𝙖𝙗𝙗𝙞𝙩. Myers is a Korean American poet, educator, illustrator, and author based in the Philadelphia region. A nationally recognized spoken word artist, she has spent more than two decades creating work that explores identity, storytelling, and social justice.

Join the author for a family-friendly afternoon of storytelling, crafts, conversation, book signing, and imaginative activities that invite participants of all ages to create, explore, and connect RSVP today at the link in our bio 🔗 Asian Arts Initiative

AAI’s iconic Artist Town Hall returns for another season! For this event, we invite local artists to come together to pitch their latest projects, share resources, and see sneak peeks of new work. This Town Hall will be hosted by Cat Ramirez (Cat Ramirez), with featured performances and works in progress by Mel Hsu (Mel Hsu) and Taj Rauch (Taj Rauch)

You are invited to present a live pitch or submit a pre-recorded video pitch for your project. You are also welcome to just attend to watch and network without presenting a pitch. Join us and connect with Philadelphia’s creative communities while enjoying delicious Sri Lankan comfort food provided by sriscompanyphilly. This event is free and open to the public! Both pitch sign-up and RSVP links are at the link in our bio 🔗 Asian Arts Initiative

Come hang out with us at AAI’s Careoke Club✨🎙️ For our seasonal karaoke night, we transform our event spaces into a vibrant gathering spot to sing and connect with our community. It’s not about vocal perfection and more about amplifying the power of our own voices! Whether you’re ready to command the stage or just want to kick back and cheer on your friends, Careoke Club is a joyful, casual space for all!

Admission is on a sliding scale and includes unlimited song requests and free snacks all night long! Plus, youth under 18 attend completely free when accompanied by a caregiver. Get your tickets today at the link in our bio 🔗 Asian Arts Initiative

It’s FringeArts festival time in Philly! As part of the festival, we are proud to serve as the primary performance hub for CANNONBALL, hosting 64 shows and 215 performances by over 350 artists across our spaces through September! From cabaret shows to immersive theater, the festival brings a vibrant energy to the city this month and showcases how versatile our spaces can be!

Looking to host your own event? AAI’s new and improved venue rental services offer affordable space options for artists, nonprofit organizations, and anyone looking for an event space near a convenient center city location! Whether you’re looking for space for performances, rehearsals, social gatherings, or professional retreats, explore how our adaptable space can bring your next vision to life! Check out our website to learn more and email us for more information 🔗 Asian Arts Initiative

Friday, October 2, 7PM 🗓️ Join us for a special screening and artist talk event with Christian Nyampeta (Christian Nyampeta)

Nyampeta’s 𝙁𝙞𝙡𝙢 𝘾𝙡𝙪𝙗 is Pan-African gathering spaces for popular education, film clubs, study circles, and cultural gatherings dedicated to making, developing, and sharing knowledge.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙞𝙡𝙢 𝘾𝙡𝙪𝙗 is organized in collaboration with institutions in Philadelphia, New York, Kigali, and Shanghai, and as part of Nyampeta’s contribution to ICA Philadelphia’s upcoming exhibition, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝘽𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙉𝙚𝙖𝙧.

This program is presented with Fall Of Freedom, a nationwide wave of creative resistance to counter fascist repression and censorship with joyful communities of defiant creativity.

Don’t miss this special evening! RSVP today at the link in our bio 🔗 Asian Arts Initiative

THIS FRIDAY (9/4) 6PM‼️We can’t wait to open our Fall exhibition 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝟐.𝟎: 𝟗% 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐧, 𝟑𝟑% 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐯𝐞. At 6:30PM, we will present a panel discussion with the artist Frank WANG Yefeng (Frank WANG Yefeng) joined by Lucas Blalock (LB) and Triton Mobley, exploring how rapid technological shifts redefine art, human agency, and collective authorship. This conversation will also be livestreamed on AAI’s YouTube Channel, if you can’t make it here in person!

Through this Fall season, our main gallery is transformed with an immersive video sculpture showcasing a project by Frank WANG Yefeng. The installation features digital avatars of the artist, created in collaboration with 33 creators across the world hired through an online freelance platform, and explores how human connection, labor, and identity adapt within the precarity of digital space.

Join us this Friday for a fun evening of gallery opening, artist talks, and light refreshments! Free and open to the public. RSVP today at the link in our bio 🔗 Asian Arts Initiative

Opening This week‼️ Community Media Lab is AAI’s new seasonal initiative transforming the passageway between the gallery and black box theater into a dedicated space for Philadelphia-based video and moving-image artists.

Community Media Lab’s inaugural feature is Rami George’s (Rami George) 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙖, a striking visual re-indexing of recent mass mobilizations for Palestine across the US. Join us this Friday (9/4), 6-9PM for the debut of Community Media Lab as well as AAI’s new Fall Exhibition opening, happening on the same night!

On Sunday, October 25 at 10AM, there will be a rare full-sound screening of the work, followed by a conversation between Rami George and artist-organizer Samantha Rise on archiving movements and the intersection of art and community organizing. Both the exhibition and the artist talk are presented as part of the citywide arts festival Collective Futures

Check out link in our bio for RSVP and more information 🔗 Asian Arts Initiative

Our new Fall Exhibition 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝟐.𝟎: 𝟗% 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐧, 𝟑𝟑% 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐯𝐞 opens NEXT FRIDAY (9/4) 6-9PM‼️

Led by artist Frank WANG Yefeng (Frank WANG Yefeng), the project transforms our main gallery with an immersive video sculpture. The installation features digital avatars of the artist, created in collaboration with 33 creators across the world hired through an online freelance platform. The project explores how human connection, labor, and identity adapt within the precarity of digital space.

Recently named a New Talent in Art in America Magazine and recipient of the 2026 New York Artadia Award, Yefeng has exhibited internationally, with recent highlights including the Whitney Museum’s artport and The High Line’s High Line Originals program.

We can’t wait to unveil this exciting exhibition and kick off our new programming season! Don’t miss the opening reception and artist panel discussions next Friday (9/4) evening. Free and open to the public. RSVP today at the link in our bio 🔗 Asian Arts Initiative

Have you spotted the pop-up sculptures and mural at The Rail Park? Students from our Youth Education Program collaborated on a public mural inspired by their mythological creation stories and characters. Six Philly-based artists then created artwork based on the students’ imaginative stories and creations! Come visit The Rail Park and check them out before the installation closes at the end of the month!

💥Enrollment is officially open for our Middle and High School Afterschool Programs! Students explore diverse arts practices through fun, hands-on workshops led by our incredible teaching artists while building a lasting community with their peers. All Philly Middle and High school students are welcome! Check out the link in our bio to fill out the inquiry form 🔗 Asian Arts Initiative

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public artwork by Paola Guillen, Sunny Hsu, Daniela Galindo, Cindy Lozito, Miguel Martinez, and Lauren Soyoung Valentina Kim

📸: Daniela Galindo