UNITED STATES OF ASIAN AMERICA FESTIVAL 2024

BE(LONG)ING HERE

The Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center of San Francisco announces and celebrates the 27th Annual United States of Asian America Festival.

Each year, the United States of Asian American Festival (USAAF) presents between 15-20 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 theme, Be(long)ing Here, asks us what being and belonging means for ourselves and our communities. The festival will honor AAPI arts and culture reflecting on where we have been, where we are now, and what our collective future holds while acknowledging our roots as immigrants, refugees, and mixed-race descendents. Here are some prompts that artists should address in their proposals:

• What does being and belonging mean for AAPI communities here in San Francisco, the United States, and in the diaspora and what does that journey look and feel like?
• How are AAPI and BIPOC communities historically and presently using arts and culture for survival, placemaking, and thriving?
• How are AAPI artists bridging arts and activism to connect to those on the fringes of society, inviting them to be active members of their local communities?
• What are we as AAPI communities longing for?

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. 

CALL FOR PROPOSALS NOW OPEN

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Individual artists, art groups, and art organizations are welcome to submit applications for art events occurring in May-June 15, 2024.

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, Be(long)ing Here:

• What does being and belonging mean for AAPI communities here in San Francisco, the United States, and in the diaspora and what does that journey look and feel like?
• How are AAPI and BIPOC communities historically and presently using arts and culture for survival, placemaking, and thriving?
• How are AAPI artists bridging arts and activism to connect to those on the fringes of society, inviting them to be active members of their local communities?
• What are we as AAPI communities longing for? 

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 9 counties (if outside Bay Area, contact us 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, 2024.
• 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 us at [email protected] to assess participation).

 
USAAF DOES NOT FUND

• Benefits or fundraisers.
• Events not open or accessible to the general public.
• Events that do not take place in the city and county of San Francisco. 

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 AWARD LEVELS & EVENTS that will be supported. 

DEADLINE & SUBMISSION FORMAT

ALL SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE AT 12:00PM PST ON MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 2024. 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 us 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 on a computer before submitting it through the application. The application is not compatible with tablets or phones.

Click here to review the APPLICATION CHECKLIST

IMPORTANT DATES

Application Q&A #1 + Artist Mixer & Open Mic – Thursday, November 30, 2023 at Arc Studios & Gallery, San Francisco @ 5:30-8:30PM
Application Q&A #2 – Monday, December 11 @ 5:30-6:30PM PST, Online via Zoom
Application Deadline – Monday, January 8. 2024 @ 12:00PM PST
Artists Notified – end of January 2024

For Selected Producing Artists:

Mandatory Orientation – Monday, February 5, 2024 @ 6:00-7:00PM PST via Zoom
Contract Deadline – Thursday, February 2, 2024
Marketing Copy Deadline – Friday, February 29, 2024
Workshop Dates – February-April 2024 (Exact Dates TBD)
Mandatory Festival Kick-Off/Opening – Friday, April 25, 2024 (public)

 
APPLICATION WORKSHOPS & FAQ

We have scheduled 2 application Q&A sessions scheduled:
Q&A #1: Thursday, November 30 @ 5:30-8:30PM, Arc Studios & Gallery, San Francisco
Q&A #2: Monday, December 11 @ 5:30–6:30PM PST

Register Here

If you cannot attend these dates and have questions about your application, please contact us at [email protected]

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