Press Content for the United States of Asian America Festival 2021

USAAF 2021 Press Release

SF CHRONICLE DATEBOOK

Asian Americans forge the future in annual San Francisco festival
Brandon Yu - April 29, 2021

‘Sowing Agency’ pays homage to Bay Area Asian Americans fighting climate change
Jessica Flores - April 30, 2021

Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in the Bay Area
Yoshi Kato - Updated May 5, 2021

LOCAL TV NEWS

Honoring Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
News Segment (Watch at 10:00) - May 30, 2021

Documentary honors San Francisco community heroes who stepped up during pandemic
KTVU FOX 2, Debora Villalon - June 11, 2021 

FEATURES

What Can the Environmental Movement Learn From Asian American Art?
Aaron Mok, Sierra Magazine - May 18, 2021

Kim Requesto Explores the Possibilities of Philippine Folk Dance in YUGTO
Stephanie Gancayo - May 27, 2021

CAAMFest 2021 - Legacy and Lineage with Director Laura Paule and Producer Melanie Elvena
BitchTalk, EP 573 - May, 2021

New ‘Lunchbox Moments’ Zine Offers One Antidote to Anti-Asian Racism
Luke Tsai, KQED Arts - June 3, 2021

‘Sowing Agency:’ Uplifting AAPI voices in the Environmental Justice Movement
Zoe Binder, San Francisco Foghorn - May 6, 2021

LISTINGS

Arts Forecast: Holy smokes, I went to a show. And ate inside a restaurant!
Marke B., 48 Hills - May 4, 2021

Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with dance, music, zines and the history of sugar
Amelia Williams, Bay City News Foundation, Local News Matters Bay Area - May 11, 2021

22 Fun Things to Do This Week (5.17.21)
Chloe Saraceni, 7x7 - May 15, 2021

Sights and Sounds: Rachel Lastimosa, SOMA Pilipinas Art and Culture Administrator
Jenee Darden, KALW - May 20, 2021

Arts Etc.
Alan Chong Lau, International Examiner - May 21, 2021

Artists Create Virtual Gallery to Inspire Climate Joy
Maz Ali, EarthJustice - May 28, 2021

24th Annual USAAF
SF/Arts - May, 2021

Invisible Traces: SF Chinatown
SF/Arts - June, 2021

SF Sends $1,000 in Monthly Relief to Artists, Critics Say Process ‘Inequitable’
Chloe Veltman, KQED Arts - May 21, 2021

Conflict over S.F. and YBCA’s guaranteed income for artists shows tension in movement for racial equity
Lily Janiak, SF Chronicle Datebook - June 1, 2021

***CONTENT HERE IS DRAFT ONLY. PAGE IS USING HTML CODE FROM TEMPLATE***

FUNDING SPONSORS

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

PRESS HIGHLIGHTS

SF CHRONICLE DATEBOOK

"Asian Americans forge the future in annual San Francisco festival"
Brandon Yu - April 29, 2021

"‘Sowing Agency’ pays homage to Bay Area Asian Americans fighting climate change"
Jessica Flores - April 30, 2021

"Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in the Bay Area"
Yoshi Kato - Updated May 5, 2021

LOCAL TV NEWS

Honoring Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
News Segment (Watch at 10:00) - May 30, 2021

Documentary honors San Francisco community heroes who stepped up during pandemic
KTVU FOX 2, Debora Villalon - June 11, 2021 

48 HILLS

"Arts Forecast: Holy smokes, I went to a show. And ate inside a restaurant!"
Marke B. - May 4, 2021

SIERRA CLUB

What Can the Environmental Movement Learn From Asian American Art?
Aaron Mok - May 18, 2021

Organizational Mission

Director Bio

Calendar of USAAF 2021 events organized by date in descending order.

MAY EVENTS

JUNE EVENTS

Welcome to the online calendar for the 24th Annual United States of Asian America Festival: Forging Our Futures - SoMa & Chinatown! In celebration of API Heritage Month, APICC is excited to present outdoor and virtual programming this MAY-JUNE.

Festival events and our selected producing artists are listed below. All times are listed in Pacific Standard Time (PST). Events with an asterisk (*) are featured and commissioned artists of APICC and USAAF 2021.

This online calendar is best viewed on a desktop computer. Click through each link or image for more details on each program.

Event pages may be updated with more info as each date approaches.

CALENDAR AT A GLANCE

Click above to view the full calendar of USAAF 2021 events organized by date.

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APICC PRESENTATIONS

CHINATOWN: OUR FUTURE IS NOW!

Portsmouth Square, May 30 @ 1-6PM

REGISTER HERE

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APICC is proud to co-present the following programs as part of the outdoor showcase in San Francisco's Chinatown

KAPWA GARDENS OUTDOOR SHOWCASE

Kapwa Gardens, June 5, 2021

REGISTER HERE

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APICC is proud to co-present the following programs as part of the outdoor showcase in San Francisco's South of Market Area

FEATURED & CO-PRESENTED VIRTUAL PROGRAMS

APICC is proud to co-present the following virtual programs

Genny Lim* Memory, Meaning and Memoir Sunday, May 16 @ 2pm	Kim Requesto YUGTO Saturday, May 29 @ 2pm	The Rooted Recipes Project* Rooted Recipes Project x Forging Our Futures Wednesday, June 9 @ 7pm
Johnny Huy Nguyen Minority Without A Model Friday, June 11 @ 6pm	Eth-Noh-Tec* If We Only Knew Saturday-Sunday, June 12-13 @ 5pm	Vida Kuang* Scattered Home Releasing Sunday, June 13

ONLINE PROGRAMS

Save the date for these artist produced online events!

#USAAF2021 #ForgingOurFutures

USAAF 2021 JURORS

Frances Wong, musician, composer and Creative Director of Asian Improv aRts
Aureen Almario, educator, artist and Artistic Director for Bindlestiff Studio
Erika Gee, educator, administrator, and cultural worker

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Sign up for our NEWSLETTER and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Christina Leilani Campbell
[email protected]

FORGING OUR FUTURES: ASIAN AMERICAN ARTISTS HEAL COMMUNITY

Asian American artists center hope in face of anti-Asian violence in San Francisco’s 24th Annual United States of Asian America Festival

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, March 26, 2021- Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center (APICC) presents the 24th annual United States of Asian America Festival (USAAF), dedicated to highlighting the artistic accomplishments and cultural diversity of San Francisco’s Pacific Islander and Asian American communities. USAAF is making waves within the Bay Area, with a lineup featuring rising artists in visual art, podcast, music, theatre, and dance scenes throughout San Francisco and beyond. The festival includes innovative art productions and events including Sowing Agency (opening exhibition), art by Vida Kuang (artist and educator), Liwanag 3 (SOMAPilipinas) and Eth-Noh-Tec (Asian American kinetic storytelling), as well as many more locally grown artists and programs. 

Forging our Futures Through Art Amidst Anti-Asian Hate

“For Asian Pacific Islander communities, this past year has been mired in such immense pain and tragic loss - countless lives taken by COVID-19, numerous legacy businesses closing with others struggling to survive, social and cultural hubs left barren, and the frightening rise of anti-Asian violence here in the SF Bay Area and nationwide,” says Melanie Elvena, Artistic Director of APICC. “I want this year’s festival to be a sanctuary where art becomes the channel through which our communities hold our grief, tell our stories, and collectively imagine futures of hope and recovery where we can thrive beyond this moment.” Under the theme of Forging Our Futures, USAAF gives AAPI artists the opportunity to build platforms and tell stories that empower AAPI communities of San Francisco.

Using Our Voices to Increase AAPI Representation and Awareness

2021 has been a pivotal year for AAPI representation, specifically in the San Francisco Bay Area. This includes film stars Daniel Wu and Ali Wong, dance company director Lenora Lee, visual artist Bernice Bing and well-known comedians Margaret Cho and Hasan Minhaj. In light of the countless anti-Asian hate crimes that have directly impacted the AAPI community on top of the pandemic, many of these artists have spoken out to condemn the violence that is happening across the country. Similar to what these artists are doing, USAAF provides a space to foster hope and resiliency for the AAPI community. 

The United States of Asian America Festival has long been a space for API artists, emerging and established alike, to create something new and very much needed. This year, positioned in a poignant moment of looking back, the festival is a cultivation and celebration of Asian Pacific Islander memory and future-making. Ranging from renewing intergenerational histories to cultivating community care, spanning grief, revival, nourishment, and everything in between, the festival’s 20+ programs take place throughout San Francisco from April 30 to June 26. A comprehensive festival schedule can be found at www.apiculturalcenter.org/usaaf2021 

HIGHLIGHTED FESTIVAL EVENTS

Sowing Agency (Opening April 30) - This year’s festival kicks off with Sowing Agency, a multidisciplinary arts exhibition activating our AAPI communities to engage in the issues of today’s climate crisis. Artists include muralist and painter Priya Kaur Handa and long time community organizer Pam Tau Lee. Presented in partnership with the Asian American Women Artists Association.

Liwanag 3 (June 5) - SOMA Pilipinas presents the Liwanag 3 book launch, a showcase of Filipino readings in genres ranging from poetry, fiction, playwriting, comics/graphic novels and featuring paintings, prints, illustrations and/or photography.

"If We Only Knew" (June 12) - Eth-Noh-Tec presents their 40th anniversary concert as an Asian American kinetic storytelling group, examining how much the ‘then’ they chose created the ‘future’ we now live.

Dear Community,

We are devastated by the shootings in Atlanta, Georgia that led to the murder of 8 people, 6 victims who were targeted as Asian women, by a white domestic terrorist. The further mistreatment by the police and media who have not officially deemed this a hate crime is racist and abusive to the victims’ families and all Asian American Pacific Islander communities already severely impacted by the pandemic. We know that many of you are feeling emotions of fear, anger, frustration, and grief over these events as we have been witnessing the anti-Asian violence rise in the San Francisco Bay Area and across the nation. Also coupled with the shooting in Boulder, Colorado this week resulting in Islamophobic rhetoric, we condemn these plagues of racism, sexism and xenophobia. We resist the white supremacist systems and institutions that are embedded in American society that suppress Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities.

APICC is proud to fiscally sponsor Unity Archive Project. Donations to Unity Archive Project can be made on this page through APICC as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 

The Unity Archives Project (click here for the website) is an online archive project for Unity/La Unidad.

Unity/La Unidad was published from 1978 to 1990 by the League of Revolutionary Struggle (M-L). Published twice a month, it appeared in three languages: English, Spanish and Chinese. Unity/La Unidad offered a radical perspective on national and international news along with first-hand reports from the frontlines of battles for self-determination, worker’s rights, women’s liberation, and social justice.  

*For check donations, please write checks to 'Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center' with 'Unity Archive Project' in the memo. Please include a return mailing address or email address to send the donation acknowledgement to.

Send checks to the address below:

APICC
934 Brannan Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

WE STAND UNITED WITH OUR ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY AND CONDEMN ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE.

The race-based hate and attacks against our community has been an ongoing issue we've faced and it's now been elevated due to racist and xenophobic rhetoric surrounding the pandemic. Many of these incidents of hate often go unreported. We urge anyone who has been a victim to seek help, and know that your are not alone. If you are in need of any resources or want to learn how you can support, take a look at the list of resources below.

THE UNITED STATES OF ASIAN AMERICA FESTIVAL 2021
FORGING OUR FUTURES - SOMA & CHINATOWN

The Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center of San Francisco announces the 24th Annual United States of Asian America Festival.

About the USAAF 2021

Each year, the United States of Asian American Festival (USAAF) presents up to 20 different programs reflecting the artistic accomplishments and cultural diversity of San Francisco’s Pacific Islander and Asian American communities. USAAF showcases artists representing a diverse range of ethnic and cultural groups and aims to heighten the visibility of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) artists working in all disciplines - theater, music, dance, film, literature, visual arts, and more! Our goal is to nurture and empower these groups to be self-sufficient while providing the support they need to grow. 

This year’s USAAF is funded by the San Francisco Arts Commission, San Francisco Grants for the Arts, California Arts Council, Fleishhacker Foundation, Zellerbach Family Foundation, startsmall and the National Endowment for the Arts.

This year’s theme, Forging Our Futures - SoMa & Chinatown, explores the following:

• How are we fostering recovery, resilience, and regeneration in our SoMa and Chinatown communities during these difficult times?
• What does place-making and community building look like in SoMa and Chinatown’s past, present, and future? How do they intersect?
• How are we imagining and manifesting empowered futures for ourselves and our communities?

Film still from Water Pilgrimage by Ranko Ogura, edited by Daniel Ancheta for USAAF 2020.

USAAF 2021 RECAP

Read the full festival recap and continue to see USAAF 2021 art throughout the summer!

USAAF 2021 CALENDAR

Full list of online and outdoor programming happening May-June, 2021
 

CALENDAR-AT-A-GLANCE

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PRESS COVERAGE

PRESS RELEASE
 

SF CHRONICLE DATEBOOK "Asian Americans forge the future in annual San Francisco festival" Brandon Yu - April 29, 2021 "‘Sowing Agency’ pays homage to Bay Area Asian Americans fighting climate change" Jessica Flores - April 30, 2021 "Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in the Bay Area" Yoshi Kato - Updated May 5, 2021 LOCAL TV NEWS Honoring Asian Pacific American Heritage Month ABC7 News Segment (Watch at 10:00) - May 30, 2021 Documentary honors San Francisco community heroes who stepped up during pandemic KTVU FOX 2, Debora Villalon - June 11, 2021 48 HILLS "Arts Forecast: Holy smokes, I went to a show. And ate inside a restaurant!" Marke B. - May 4, 2021 SIERRA CLUB What Can the Environmental Movement Learn From Asian American Art? Aaron Mok - May 18, 2021

FESTIVAL ARTISTS

The Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center is thrilled to announce the presenting artists for the 24th Annual United States of Asian America Festival:

WORKSHOPS

The following workshops are open to the public with a focus on events occurring as part of USAAF 2021.
Click each workshop link below to register:

Programming During the Pandemic
Monday, March 15 @ 6pm

Budget & Fundraising
Wednesday, March 17 @ 6pm

Taxes for Artists
Monday, March 22 @ 6pm

Marketing & Publicity
Wednesday, March 24 @ 6pm

CALL FOR PROPOSALS NOW CLOSED

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Monday, February 8, 2021 at 11:59PM PST

Interested in applying next year? Review this year's Submission Guidelines.

When filling out the USAAF 2021 online application, please make sure to have prepared:

SHORT EVENT DESCRIPTION

In 200 words or less, describe your proposed event including the event title, type of event, topic explored, and number of anticipated artists and audience members. As an example, “This proposal requests $(AMOUNT) to support (TITLE), a (TYPE OF EVENT i.e., performance piece, literary reading, exhibition, etc.) exploring (TOPIC) and featuring (NUMBER OF ARTISTS) artists that will attract an estimated audience of (ESTIMATED AUDIENCE NUMBER).”

PROJECT PROPOSAL

In 500 words or less, please (1) describe the work that you plan to showcase, and (2) explain how this work is connected to this year’s theme – Forging Our Futures - SoMa & Chinatown – and how the subject(s) of your program(s) and/or event(s) focus on themes related to Pacific Islander and Asian American themes and culture:

• How are we fostering recovery, resilience, and regeneration in our SoMa and Chinatown communities during these difficult times?
• What does place-making and community building look like in SoMa and Chinatown’s past, present, and future? How do they intersect?
• How are we imagining and manifesting empowered futures for ourselves and our communities?

 
GROUP OR ARTIST BIO & RESUME/CV

Please provide relevant proof of capacity to successfully produce a well-organized and well-attended cultural event or performance similar to that which is being proposed in the form of:

• Biography
• Resume/CV including an exhibitions, performances, productions, etc.
• Sizes of Audiences for various past performances

GROUP/ARTIST STATEMENT

In 500 words or less, tell us about your mission, values, philosophy, modes of creation and/or collaboration, artistic inspirations, etc.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT MATERIALS

Please provide minimum 3 additional support materials or work samples that will be useful for the selection committee to get to know your work and your ability to produce well-organized, well-attended events featuring skillful art or meaningful discussion. We will accept:

• High quality images of your work and past events. Please upload up to 3 high resolution images in .jpg or .jpeg format. The images must be at least 4”x6” or 6”x4”. You may also provide a link to your online portfolio.
• An excerpt of your script or literary excerpt. Please upload files in .doc or .pdf format that are no more than 3 pages in length.
• Links to online video clips of your work. Please provide online links to high quality videos that are 3 minutes in length or less. You may also provide video clips with notated time segments in the "Special Instructions" for the selection committee to review. For password protected videos, please provide a guest password in the "Special Instructions".
• Press coverage in the form of full articles about your work.
• Reviews and Testimonials from audience members or other credible sources.

 
BUDGET

• Please provide a budget for your event/program outlining proposed income and expenses. Feel free to use this Budget Template and Sample Budget.
• Include any additional income sources such as current and/or pending grants, fundraising campaigns, etc.

LEVELS OF SUPPORT

Featured Events and the annual visual arts exhibition are proactively selected through internal APICC processes.

Artists or groups are encouraged to apply to USAAF within one of the following four (4) levels of support:

PROMOTIONAL VIRTUAL EVENT

For artists, groups, or organizations who primarily (or only) need promotional assistance.

• Artists self-produce virtually broadcasted events
• APICC provides online promotional support only
• Artists eligible for free workshops and 4 hours of 1:1 consultation

 
SELF-PRODUCED VIRTUAL EVENT

For producing artists, groups or organizations who would prefer to produce an online event from their own space. The producing artist does not need to reside or produce the event in SoMa or Chinatown as long as they have strong ties or are working with the API communities living in these neighborhoods.

• Artists self-produce event in their own space to be broadcasted virtually
• Artists responsible for finding their own technical staff
• APICC provides promotional support and virtual account platform (Zoom Pro and potentially other online streaming platforms) 
• Artists eligible for free workshops and 4 hours of 1:1 consultation

$5000 total award in artist and tech/production fees to selected producing artist

 
CO-PRESENTED VIRTUAL EVENT

For producing artists, groups or organizations interested in producing their virtual event at an APICC-approved venue. Potential venues include Bindlestiff Studio, SOMArts Cultural Center or I-Hotel Manilatown.

• Artists produce event in an APICC-approved venue
• Venue or APICC will provide technical staff and support
• APICC provides promotional support and virtual account platform (Zoom Pro and potentially other online streaming platforms) 
• Potential Approved Venues - Bindlestiff Studio, SOMArts, I-Hotel Manilatown

$4500 total award in artist and tech/production fees to selected producing artist

 
CO-PRESENTED OUTDOOR EVENT WITH VIRTUAL STREAM

APICC will book an outdoor venue in SoMa and Chinatown for two separate showcases. Artists, groups or organizations interested in showcasing at either of these two outdoor showcases may apply for this category and must specify a preferred neighborhood in the application.

• Artists produce and present work at an outdoor showcase produced by APICC
• Outdoor venue/APICC will provide technical staff and support
• APICC provides promotional support, virtual streaming support and virtual account platform (Zoom Pro and potentially other online streaming platforms) 

$4500 total award in artist and tech/production fees to selected producing artist

 
ELIGIBILITY

In order to be eligible to participate in USAAF:

• Pacific Islander and/or Asian American artists must be centralized within the artistic creation process, and constitute a majority of participating artists.
• Lead producing artist(s) must be based in the Bay Area (if outside Bay Area, contact Artistic Director Melanie Elvena to assess participation).
• Lead producing artist(s) must be over 18, but artists participating in the program can be all ages.
• Lead producing artist(s) must demonstrate the ability to produce their own event (i.e., including managing and executing all production, creative, technical, promotional, etc. responsibilities).
• Events must occur in May through mid-June, 2021.
• Agree to attend APICC’s professional development workshops (it is highly recommended that you attend all workshops).
• Be able to meet all marketing and artistic deadlines (see below).
• Be a legal resident of the United States (if you are not a legal US resident, contact Artistic Director Melanie Elvena to assess participation).

Graphics by Kalaya'an Mendoza, co-founder of Across Frontlines

Dear Community,

We are grateful for the privilege to create spaces and opportunities for Asian Pacific Islander artists and cultural workers. As we have the opportunity to celebrate our art and culture, we stand in solidarity with the lives of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, George Floyd, along with their families and communities. It is important for our community to recognize the historical violence and injustice inflicted upon black, brown and indigenous communities and call ourselves in to dismantle racist and oppressive systems. While there will always be much more to do, every act of engagement can open up possibilities to create a more just world. As non-black people of color we must take ownership of our participation in working towards anti-racism, in support of Black Lives Matter.

Welcome to the online program listings for the 23rd Annual United States of Asian America Festival: FINDING KINSHIP! In celebration of API Heritage Month, APICC is excited to present virtual programming originally set to occur MAY-JUNE at various locations in San Francisco and Oakland.

Need a break from the screen, but still want to feel connected? Listen to the FINDING KINSHIP playlist on Spotify, including songs, poetry and music recommended by USAAF 2020 artists. Featuring songs by Jon Jang, Boondock Squad, Sammay Dizon and Ruby Ibarra. 

Festival events and our selected producing artists are listed below and best viewed on desktop.
Click through each link for more details on viewing or attending each program online

This page is to be updated weekly.

UPDATE: Productions by Virada Chatikul, Gay Asian Pacific Alliance and Asian Prisoner Support Committee have been canceled.

ONLINE RELEASES

LIVE STREAMED EVENTS

#USAAF2020 #FINDING KINSHIP

USAAF 2020 JURORS

Eddie Wong, activist, filmmaker and editor/publisher of East Wind Ezine. 
Tatiana Chaterji, performing artist, writer, co-founder of Subcontinental Drift Easy Bay
Sami Schilf, San Francisco Bay Area based visual artist and muralist 

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Dear Community,

In light of the rapidly changing circumstances regarding COVID-19 prevention, APICC’s staff and board have been in earnest discussion about the orders and advice coming from local, state, and federal authorities on how best to protect those who could have the worst outcomes from the virus. As of last Friday, March 13, the City & County of San Francisco issued a Public Health Order prohibiting non-essential gatherings of 100 people or more and recommending to cancel meetings of 10 or more people with vulnerable populations until April 30. As of today, an article has also just been released notifying the public of a shelter-in-place order to be in effect in 6 Bay Area counties until April 7.

Over the course of the past few weeks, many other businesses, places of entertainment, worship, and educational institutions have already made the decision to halt non-essential activities, to limit the risk of close contact with potential carriers of the virus. Our community's health is very important to us, so we are postponing any upcoming major events until further notice. Seeing our friends at performances and art openings while presenting our amazing artists are the highlights of our year.  We will miss seeing all of you during the spring, but we know we’ll be back together again.

In regards to the upcoming United States of Asian America Festival: FINDING KINSHIP, we are working with this year’s producing artists to find creative alternatives and opportunities to bring API stories to the public.

Amidst racist and xenophobic profiling in relation to the virus, we recognize that presenting art and culture by API artists is most important during moments like this. We encourage our community to stay up to date using accurate information from reliable resources such as those linked below. 

During this time of reflection we will be working with our funders to find ways to help mitigate the economic and professional losses our artists will be facing.  We thank our major funders such as SF Grants for the Arts, SF Arts Commission, California Arts Council, Cal Humanities, and Zellerbach Family Foundation for taking leadership in trying to understand the impact this is going to have on small cultural nonprofits and community artists.  We also thank our civic leaders who have been tireless in gathering information, making historically difficult decisions and keeping us informed.

RESOURCES & FACTS

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s info on the virus
• Official Guidelines from the State of California
• Coronavirus Facts from the San Francisco Department of Public Health
• Friday, March 13 Public Health Order, prohibiting gatherings of 100 or more persons issued by the City & County of San Francisco until April 30, 2020
• Monday, March 16 San Francisco Chronicle article on the shelter-in-place announcement

Every member of our community deserves to be safe and although these are difficult decisions, they are the right ones to take. Please remain vigilant in social distancing and look out for your loved ones.  

Please feel free to contact us via email at [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns. 

Thank you,
Vinay, Melanie and Diana

Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center Staff

THE UNITED STATES OF ASIAN AMERICA FESTIVAL 2020
FINDING KINSHIP

The Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center of San Francisco announces the 23rd Annual United States of Asian America Festival: FINDING KINSHIP.

About the USAAF 2020

Each year, the United States of Asian American Festival (USAAF) presents up to 20 different programs reflecting the artistic accomplishments and cultural diversity of San Francisco’s Pacific Islander and Asian American communities. USAAF showcases artists representing a diverse range of ethnic and cultural groups and aims to heighten the visibility of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) artists working in all disciplines - theater, music, dance, film, literature, visual arts, and more! Our goal is to nurture and empower these groups to be self-sufficient while providing the support they need to grow. USAAF is funded by the San Francisco Arts Commission and San Francisco Grants for the Arts.

This year’s theme, Finding Kinship, exposed the importance and need for various forms of kinship and empowered community building for Pacific Islanders and Asians living in America - familial, creative and cultural, chosen families, geographical, spiritual, political, and beyond. The festival honors our shared stories, and reveals different parallels and intersections that imagine a future of empathy and solidarity between marginalized communities.

FESTIVAL RECAP

The festival is over, but you can still watch online recordings of some of this year's events and programs, including the Legacy & Lineage film series.
Click here to watch these recordings along with the video recap and read more on everyone we had to thank this year!

USAAF 2020 Online

Click here for a full list of online programming happening May-June, 2020!

(Updated Weekly)

PRESS RELEASE

COVID-19 RESPONSE

Our community's health is very important to us.

Please read this letter to learn how APICC is responding to the evolving circumstances related to COVID-19.

Workshops are available to USAAF participants every year. Attend some of the workshops that are open to the public before the festival starts:

Relax with Tax for Artists and Creatives (March 5)

Documenting Community Life and Art Work (March 19) - THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Festival Artists

The Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center is thrilled to announce the presenting artists for the United States of Asian American Festival (USAAF) coming in May-June 2020!

FEATURED ARTISTS: 

Sami See

Jon Jang

FOCUS ARTISTS

Asian Prisoner Support Committee
Ramon Abad/Bindlestiff Studio
Ranko Ogura Dance
Kearny Street Workshop
jxtheo
Virada Chatikul
Gay Asian Pacific Alliance

SHOWCASE ARTISTS

Rea Lynn de Guzman
Parivar
A Hxstory of Renting

MEMBER ARTISTS

dNaga
Urban x Indigenous
Political Participation Inherited

Juried by Eddie Wong, Tatiana Chaterji and USAAF 2020 Featured Artist Sami See, the selected artists best reflected the festival's goals towards diversity and artistic excellence while also embodying this year's festival theme: Finding Kinship.

Click here to read more about Festival Awards and Levels of Support.

USAAF SUPPORTS | All mediums of art and culture (e.g., theater, storytelling, stand-up comedy, dance, performance art, solo performance, literary, panel discussion, music, visual art exhibition, performance poetry, film, spoken word, variety showcase, multimedia productions, multi-art productions, etc).

USAAF DOES NOT FUND | Benefits and fundraisers. Events not open or accessible to the general public. Events occurring outside of the city and county of San Francisco.*

Online Application

Apply to USAAF 2020 online: Now Closed

Please read the following section completely and carefully.

About the USAAF 2020

Individual artists, arts groups, and arts organizations are welcome to submit applications for events occurring in May 2020.

FESTIVAL THEME | FESTIVAL THEME | Subject(s) of your program(s) and/or event(s) focus on themes related to Pacific Islander and Asian American themes and culture, connecting specifically to this year’s theme of FINDING KINSHIP:

• The importance and need for various forms of kinship and empowered community building as Pacific Islanders and Asians living in America - e.g. familial, creative and cultural, chosen families, geographical, spiritual, political, etc.
• Honoring our shared stories as Asians and Pacific Islanders in America, and revealing different parallels and intersections that imagine a future of empathy and solidarity between marginalized communities.
• The journey of accepting or denying kinship by and between individuals and distinct communities.

DEADLINE & SUBMISSION FORMAT | ALL SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE AT 11:59PM PST ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019. No late submissions will be accepted. All files must be submitted through the online submission form.

If you have any problems with this submission form, please contact APICC's Artistic Director Melanie Elvena directly at [email protected]. NO phone, post-mail, or in-person submissions will be accepted. Incomplete or incorrectly formatted submissions will also NOT be accepted.

Students and emerging artists are encouraged to apply. The selected and wait-listed artists or groups will be contacted by email the week of Monday, November 18, 2019.

Application Checklist

APPLICATION WORKSHOPS |

One-on-one application workshops are available by appointment between September 30-October 28, 2019. Please schedule an appointment to speak with APICC Staff prior to the submission deadline.
WORKSHOP REGISTRATION

Photo by Lorenz Angelo, Urban x Indigenous 2016

APICC proudly presents the work of USAAF Featured Artist - Irene Tu - during the 2019 Festival.

Irene Tu

Irene Tu is a stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. Named one of the Bay Area’s best stand up comedians and an “artist on the brink of fame,” Irene has performed at numerous festivals and opened for Patton Oswalt and W. Kamau Bell. This is her third USAAF show. 

Rest In Peace Irene

Rest In Peace Irene is a humorous look at one of life’s most serious topics: death. In this solo show, Irene explores what it means to grapple with your mortality while trying to live life to its fullest. Dark subject matter include: what to do in case of an apocalypse, preferred ways to die, how to grieve appropriately, and things to not say in front of your elderly grandparents. If you’re afraid of death, this show is for you. If you love death, see a therapist first, but this show is also for you.

Written & performed by Irene Tu. Directed by Kat Evasco.

Rest In Peace Irene will premiere on 8pm, May 17 & 18, 2019 at Bindlestiff Studio, San Francisco. Buy presale tickets online: https://ripirene.bpt.me/

WHAT IS THE FEATURED ARTIST?

Each year, APICC’s Artistic Director will choose a Featured Artist whose work will be highlighted to represent Asian and Pacific Islander artists in San Francisco’s arts community in its annual United States of Asian America Festival (USAAF). The artist chosen: is committed to API arts in San Francisco and the greater Bay Area; demonstrates leadership in building arts communities; creates high quality and engaging arts experiences for both artists involved and its audiences; and has participated in USAAF and/or has cultivated a deeper, collaborative relationship with APICC.

The Featured Artist not only receives fiscal support for the creation and presentation of their work for the festival, but will also be part of the jury that curates USAAF’s events and programs. The Featured Artist will be a leader and mentor in the festival’s process by leading professional development workshops and providing artistic feedback during the creation process to the other artists participating in USAAF. This level of support aims to fulfill APICC’s festival goals:

• Implement a commissioning program that will function as an artists incubator - creating multiple career pathways for API artists to grow.
• Facilitate community building with and between local API artists.
• Attain flexibility to address production and professional development needs of individual artists.
• Be more directly involved in supporting the artistic creation process.

Each year, APICC presents the United States of Asian America Festival (USAAF) with up to 20 different programs reflecting the artistic accomplishments and cultural diversity of San Francisco’s Pacific Islander and Asian American communities. USAAF showcases artists representing a diverse range of ethnic and cultural groups and aims to heighten the visibility of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) artists working in all disciplines - theater, music, dance, film, literature, visual arts, and more. Our goal is to nurture and empower these groups to be self-sufficient while providing the support they need to grow. USAAF is funded by the San Francisco Arts Commission and San Francisco Grants for the Arts.

In addition to USAAF, APICC also programs, sponsors and presents events and showcases throughout the year.
Click above to see a list of our upcoming events and learn about events we've presented in the past.