The Cultural and Economic Impact of Little Mekong

Portrait of Asian man in blue striped shirt with a door and a painting in the background.

Va-Megn Thoj, founder and executive director of the Asian Economic Development Association. Photo courtesy of AEDA

Va-Megn Thoj, founder and executive director of AEDA, discusses the evolution of Little Mekong in St. Paul, Minnesota, and how its development has changed the Twin Cities and its Southeast Asian residents for the better.

From Law to Libretto

An Asian woman in a black velvet dress lying on the wooden floor with a pig on each side of her.

Librettist Cerise Lim Jacobs of White Snake Projects. Photo by James Matthew Daniel

Cerise Lim Jacobs shares how her opera company White Snake Projects uses art to defy stereotypes, challenge the status quo, and create space for underserved and underrepresented groups.

Joy Is a Beautiful Act of Resistance

Asian women on scaffolding in front of mural she is painting.

Multidisciplinary artist Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya working on a mural in Washington, DC. Photo by Will Martinez

Multidisciplinary artist Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya offers her perspective on being an Asian American woman artist and all that makes possible.

Students Across America Selected as Winners of 2021 Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge

Graphic with 13 photos of young adults who won a songwriting contest
The NEA in partnership with the American Theatre Wing announced the winners of the 2021 Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge.

Bringing Joy and Upliftment

Indian American woman in purple outfit dancing.

Rina Mehta, co-founder of the Leela Dance Collective. Photo by Travis Broxton

Rina Mehta, a disciple of 2009 NEA National Heritage Fellow Pandit Chitresh Das, shares why she practices the art of Kathak and the importance of the Leela Dance Collective, which she co-founded.

Reclaiming the Culture through Hula

Portrait of woman wearing a purple floral wreath.

Vicky Holt Takamine, founder of PA‘I Foundation. Photo courtesy of PA‘I Foundation

Vicky Holt Takamine, founder of the PA‘I Foundation, discusses why she has become an advocate for Native Hawaiian artists and cultural practitioners, the significance of Hawai‘i’s natural resources to their culture, and the meaning of PA‘I.

The Making of Lost Freedom: A Memory

Japanese family standing outside in early 1940s

Takei family in the 1940s. Photo courtesy of George Takei

Actor/author George Takei and composer/musician Kenji Bunch talk about creating the string quartet with narrator piece, "Lost Freedom: A Memory."

Making Space for Asian Americans in the Arts

Portrait of Asian woman with short black hair, wearing glasses and a red shirt.

Lisa Gold, executive director of the Asian American Arts Alliance. Photo by Gerrie Lim, courtesy of Asian American Arts Alliance

Lisa Gold, executive director of Asian American Arts Alliance, shares her thoughts on the impact of her organization's dedication to serving Asian American artists and arts organizations across all disciplines.

Showing Strength through Creativity: Equity and Access in the Arts for Asian American/Pacific Islander Communities

Year

2021

Issue Number

2

Teaser

The National Endowment for the Arts is committed to advancing racial equity, access, and justice, and is continuously learning from the arts community. In this issue of American Artscape, we hear stories from Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) artists and leaders. These first-person accounts reflect distinct communities, art forms, and professional pathways, yet all share a common thread: they tell the story of who we are as a people and a nation.

Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson Nominated to be Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts
 

A smiling woman with dark hair and dark brown eyes

Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson. Photo credit: David K. Riddick

Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson nominated to be Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts
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