UNITED STATES OF ASIAN AMERICA FESTIVAL 2023

REIMAGINING HORIZONS

The Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center of San Francisco announces and celebrates the 26th Annual United States of Asian America Festival.

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, Zellerbach Family Foundation and startsmall. 

This year’s theme, REIMAGINING HORIZONS, asks us to reimagine and reconstruct the bridges between before and beyond. It acknowledges the questions, uncertainties, and processes that arise as we create new ways of being and belonging in a critically transformed world. The festival honors the constant negotiation of the past and present so that we may build towards our collective and generative futures. Artists are invited to explore the following:

• How can we (re)discover and (re)construct the horizons of possibility for our selves, our communities, and our dreams?
• As we reckon with newfound insights and intentions post-pandemic, what does it mean to embrace abundance and celebrate our expansiveness?
• How can AAPI visionaries imagine a future where we arrive beside, and in solidarity with, our BIPOC communities?
• How do we harness and honor our collective power socially and politically as AAPIs?

WORKSHOP SLIDES

FAQ

FESTIVAL ARTISTS

APICC is proud to announce the names of the artists participating in the 26th annual United States of Asian America Festival:

Artists and programs in this year's festival were selected by a panel of jurors including:

Johnny Huy Nguyen, dancer/choreographer
Susie Kagami, KOHO SF Japantown
Raj Rao, Parivar Bay Area

Stay tuned for program and events produced by these artists to take place in celebration of API Heritage, this April-June 2023!

USAAF 2023 CALENDAR

Click to view the FULL CALENDAR or the full list of events organized by date on the CALENDAR-AT-A-GLANCE and sign up to volunteer!

FULL CALENDAR   •   CALENDAR-AT-A-GLANCE   •   SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER

CALL FOR PROPOSALS NOW CLOSED

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Individual artists, art groups, and art organizations are welcome to submit applications for art events occurring in May-June 15, 2022.

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, Reimagining Horizons:

• How can we (re)discover and (re)construct the horizons of possibility for our selves, our communities, and our dreams?
• As we reckon with newfound insights and intentions post-pandemic, what does it mean to embrace abundance and celebrate our expansiveness?
• How can AAPI visionaries imagine a future where we arrive beside, and in solidarity with, our BIPOC communities?
• How do we harness and honor our collective power socially and politically as AAPIs?

 
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).

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 at [email protected] 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 June 15, 2022.
• Agree to attend APICC’s professional development workshops (it is highly recommended that you attend all workshops, dates listed below).
• 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 at [email protected] to assess participation).

 
USAAF DOES NOT FUND

• Benefits and fundraisers.
• Events not open or accessible to the general public. 

 
LEVELS OF SUPPORT

This year's award categories and levels of support have been adapted with consideration of health and safety guidelines around public gatherings at this time. 

Click here to review the new award levels and the types of events that will be supported.

DEADLINE & SUBMISSION FORMAT

ALL SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE AT 11:59PM PST ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2021. No late submissions will be accepted. All files must be submitted through the online submission form.

If you have any problems with the 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.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

It's recommended you draft your proposal on a separate document before submitting it through the application.

Click here to view a checklist of important items required to submit through the application.

IMPORTANT DATES

Application Q&A #1 – Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at 5:30-6:30 PM PST
Application Q&A #2 – Sunday, November 20, 2022 at 3:00-4:00 PM PST
Application Deadline – Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at 11:59PM PST
Artists Notified – December 17, 2022

For selected producing artists:
Mandatory Orientation – Early January (Specific Date TBD)
Contract Deadline – Friday, December 30, 2022
Marketing Copy Deadline – Friday, February 24, 2023
Workshop Dates – January-March 2023 (Specific Dates TBD)
Festival Kick-Off – Friday, April 28, 2023 (Open to the public)

 
APPLICATION WORKSHOPS & FAQ

We have scheduled two application workshops:
WORKSHOP #1: Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at 5:30-6:30 PM PST.
WORKSHOP #2: Sunday, November 20, 2022 at 3:00-4:00 PM PST.

Missed our Application Workshops? Check out our Presentation Slides and our FAQ.

If you still have questions about your application, please contact Artistic Director Melanie Elvena at [email protected]