This is a free festival celebrating
APIDA creativity in Chicago.
Confirmed artists and performers announced daily.
Everyone is welcome to volunteer. Thank you. Apply here.
Applications to participate in the Festival are closed, but if you have creative ideas on how to be involved, contact us.
FRIDAY
5/5
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E. Washington Street
Chicago, IL
GAR ROTUNDA
5-6 pm: Painting demonstration
Won Kim paints.
5-8:30 pm: Living installation
Katie Chung wears her fashion garment fabricated with tags from her immigrant parents’ dry cleaner.
5:15-5:45 pm: Live classical music
Béke Trio plays Dvorak.
CLAUDIA CASSIDY THEATER
6 pm: Opening ceremony
Mia Park, executive director, welcomes one and all.
6:15 pm: Stand up comedy
Eunji Kim slays.
6:45 pm: Film screening
"Running", written by and starring Danny Pudi
Danny (Community, Mythic Quest) sets out to uncover the story of his estranged father. Piecing together mementos, stories from his dad's old friends, and hard conversations with his mother, Pudi starts on a mission to solve the puzzle of his father and finds himself instead on a complex, funny, and vulnerable journey of self-discovery and acceptance.
7:45-8:30 pm: Panel discussion
Art as Unifier
Monica Eng moderates. Panelists: Tatsu Aoki, Richard Costes, Hannah II-Epstein, Patricia Nguyen, Danny Pudi
How the promise of art and creativity can unify our community.
ASL provided.
SATURDAY
5/6
Goodman Theatre
The Alice
170 N. Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL
CLIFFORD LOBBY
12-8:30 pm
Tea and Talk: BYOT
Bring Your Own Tea in a covered container. Meet fellow creatives and arts supporters while relaxing in the lounge.Found art objects by Ji Yang
Sound Installation by I-Chien Chen
LAB ROOMS ONE AND TWO
Free workshops for Chicagoans who identify as Asian, Pacific Island, and South Asian American. No experience necessary to join these enriching workshops. Enrollment opens April 1st. ASL by request.
1-3 pm: Playwriting 101 with Tanuja Devi Jagernauth
Get centered in your body before exploring your lived experiences through playwriting. Space for 15 new playwrights.1:30-3 pm: Story telling for 50 years+ with Ada Cheng
Learn how to tell your personal story and practice storytelling with an open mic. Space for 25 new storytellers ages 50 years+.4-6 pm: Improv 101 with Stir Friday Night
Hone your confidence and improvisational skills. Learn how to create comedy from your unique APIDA perspective. Space for 20 new improvisers, divided into two classes of 10.
ROTUNDA
Performances
12-5 pm TBA
Staged play reading
7-8:30 pm: A staged reading of short plays. ASL provided. Reservations TBA.
Sue Pak hosts.
Lavina Jadhwani and Karina Patel direct.
SUNDAY
5/7
Museum of Contemporary Art
220 E. Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL
THE COMMONS
10-3 pm: DIY craft market
Ed Mar curates.
Vendor list TBA.
10-2pm: Family creation station
For artists of all ages.
ASL by request.
OUTDOORS
11-12 pm: Outside audio walk
”Shore Land” by Jee Yeun Lee
A walk that reflects on the history of the Chicago lakefront and contrasts the settler’s engineering with Indigenous perspectives on land and water. Expect 35 minutes of walking, rain or shine. Bring a smartphone and headphones to stream audio. Meet on the MCA steps. ASL by request. Space for 50 audio walkers. Reservations open April 1.
GROUND FLOOR LOBBY
Performances TBA
EDLIS NEESON THEATER
10:30-11:30 am: Open mic
Jonald Reyes is the master of ceremonies.
12:15-1:15 pm: Panel discussion
Creativity for Wholeness and Healing
Susie An moderates. Panelists: Angelica Grace, Asad Ali Jafri, Lanialoha Lee, Anneliese Moy, Jigar Shah
Can art making complete an individual or population? Exploring the healing potential of creativity by and for our community.
2-3 pm: Dance
Helen Lee curates.
Irene Hsiao, Helen Lee, Kinnari Vora dance.
Apply here to dance by Feb 15.
3:35-4:15 pm: Music
Kim rocks.
ASL provided.
PRESENTERS: Updated daily.
May 5: Chicago Cultural Center
Won Kim
Painter
Eunji Kim
Comedian
Tanuja Devi Jagernauth
Playwriting Instructor
JeeYeun Lee
Audio walk
Karissa Murrell Myers
Casting
Lavina Jadhwani
Director
Kim
Rock band
Susie An
Panel Moderator
TBA
Panelist
TBA
Panelist
TBA
Panelist
TBA
Open Mic Aritst
Irene Hsiao
Dancer
TBA
Dancer
Monica Eng
Panel Moderator
TBA
Panelist
TBA
Musician
TBA
Musician
TBA
Musician
TBA
Film
TBA
Panelist
TBA
Panelist
Karina Patel
Director
Katie Chung
Artist
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Caroline Uy
Producer
Ada Cheng
Storytelling Instructor
May 6: Goodman Theatre
TBA
Open Mic Aritst
TBA
Panelist
Kinnari Vora
Dancer
Mia Park
Opening Ceremony
Stir Friday Night
Improv Instructors
May 7: TBA FEB 1
Helen Lee
Dance Coordinator
Ed Mar
DIY Market Coordinator
Jonald Reyes
Open Mic MC
Market Vendor
TBA
Market Vendor
TBA
TBA
Open Mic Aritst
TBA
Open Mic Aritst
Margaret Pak
Chef
PRESENTERS: Updated daily.
May 5: Chicago Cultural Center
Won Kim
Painter
Béke Trio
Beke Trio Musicians
Mia Park
Opening Ceremony
Eunji Kim
Comedian
Katie Chung
Artist
Monica Eng
Panel Moderator
Tatsu Aoki
Panelist
Richard Costes
Panelist
.JPG)
Hannah Il-Epstein
Panelist
Patricia Nguyen
Panelist
Danny Pudi
Panelist
May 6: Goodman Theatre
Caroline Uy
Producer
Ada Cheng
Storytelling Instructor
Tanuja Devi Jagernauth
Playwriting Instructor
Asra Khan
Stir Friday Night Improv Instructors
Jonathan Lee-Rey
Stir Friday Night Improv Instructors
Karissa Murrell Myers
Casting
Lavina Jadhwani
Director
Karina Patel
Director
Sue Pak
Play Reading MC
JI YANG
Object Artist
TBA
Actor
TBA
Actor
TBA
Actor
TBA
Actor
TBA
Playwright
TBA
Actor
TBA
Playwright
TBA
Playwright
TBA
Playwright
TBA
Playwright
Margaret Pak
Chef
JeeYeun Lee
Audio walk
Ed Mar
DIY Market Coordinator
Jonald Reyes
Open Mic MC
TBA
Open Mic Aritst
TBA
Open Mic Aritst
TBA
Open Mic Aritst
TBA
Open Mic Aritst
Susie An
Panel Moderator
Asad Ali Jafri
Panelist
Angelica Grace
Panelist
Lanialoha Lee
Panelist
Anneliese Moy
Panelist
Jigar Shah
Panelist
Helen Lee
Dance Coordinator
Irene Hsiao
Dancer
Kinnari Vora
Dancer
TBA
Dancer
Kim
Rock band