Asian arts initiative will collaborate with the indigenous arts and culture organizations, we are the seeds and indigenous direction, to produce visual art exhibitions and POP-up projects

The Asian Arts Initiative received a $112,300 Project Grant award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services on November 1, 2021 to support collaborative visual art exhibitions and pop-up projects with Indigenous Arts and Culture organizations through October 31, 2022. Funded activities include producing exhibitions and pop-up projects showcasing Indigenous and Asian American artists in Philadelphia's Chinatown North/Callowhill neighborhood. The grant also supports at least one Indigenous artist-in-residence and pays Indigenous consultants to contribute to a community advisory board and evaluate organizational practices and strategic programming. Services target Indigenous artists and community members as well as audiences intersecting with Asian American communities. This award advances the National Leadership Grants program's goal of addressing critical needs in the museum and library fields to strengthen services for the American public.

The project will also support at least one indigenous artist-in-residence in philadelphia's chinatown north/callowhill neighborhood. Indigenous consultants will be paid to contribute to a community advisory board associated with the project as well as to evaluate and provide recommendations regarding organizational practices and strategic programming. The program will serve indigenous artists and community members, along with audiences who intersect with the asian american community of artists, performers, youth and residents in philadelphia. Through this project, asian arts initiative and partners will encourage asset-based practices that serve as models for care in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic.