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HOUSTON, April 18, 2023 — This May, Asia Society Texas invites the entire community to participate in the celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) with 31 days of activities to celebrate the vibrant and diverse traditions and contributions of Asians and Asian Americans. In addition to FREE exhibition access all month long, our printable calendar highlights Asia Society's live programs, features a curated selection of on-demand activities, staff recommendations, and more!

Since 1979, May has been a dedicated time to celebrate Asian Pacific American heritage, but it wasn't until 1992 that May was officially designated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Selected to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the U.S. in May 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad in May 1869 that was made possible by thousands of Chinese laborers, APAHM elevates the stories, contributions, and experiences of Asian and Asian American communities.

We invite our community to visit our exhibitions on view, join us for a live program, explore a variety of on-demand content, and find inspiration to celebrate Asian Pacific American heritage and combat anti-Asian racism throughout the month of May and beyond.

31 Ways to Celebrate APAHM — At-a-Glance

Full information: asiasociety.org/APAHM2023
Download the printable PDF calendar of events here.

Live Programming Highlights:

• All month long: Enjoy free admission to our exhibitions on view including Summoning Memories: Art Beyond Chinese Traditions.
• May 11: Join us for an immersive multimedia performance by pianist Eunbi Kim as she creates a soundworld of classical music threaded with an indie-pop awareness.
• May 13: Celebrate underrepresented voices through BIPOC Book Fest's showcase of literary works, panels, and workshops celebrating Black, Indigenous, people of color, and other creatives!
• May 18: Hear from notable women news anchors Melanie Lawson, Pooja Lodhia, and Rekha Muddaraj as they discuss the joys and challenges of being female journalists and news anchors of color as part of our Bank of America Women's Leadership Series.
• May 19: Explore the cultural, historical, and artistic themes in our Summoning Memories exhibition at our free Symposium, which includes a gallery tour, panel discussions, and a keynote presentation by guest curator, Dr. Susan L. Beningson.

On-Demand Highlights:

• Each Sunday, refresh and reset with Staff Picks for music, books, podcasts, and what to watch next.
• On Mondays, enjoy selections from our Encore Series, which highlights the best of Asia Society’s live programming.
• Tuesdays offer an opportunity to learn about local Asian Americans who reflect the richness and diversity of our community through our video series Houston's Asian American Journeys. 

About APAH Month at Asia Society Texas

Beginning in 2021, Asia Society Texas has celebrated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with the Houston community and beyond through a curated calendar of events for 31 ways to celebrate over the 31 days of May. Spotlighting the traditions, talents, and contributions of Asians and Asian Americans, the calendar highlights the month's key Asia Society programming, providing a platform to showcase local artists, performers, educators, and leaders who contribute to the vibrant, multicultural tapestry of Houston while also featuring staff recommendations for our favorite music, books, movies, and more by Asian and Asian American creatives.

At Asia Society Texas, APAH Month is an opportunity to celebrate and honor Asians and Asian Americans and to uplift their stories to a broader audience as part of our goal to inspire our larger community to better understand one another through culture, conversation, and connection. For information about sponsoring APAH Month and other projects like this one, please contact Saleena Jafry at [email protected] or 713.496.9939.

Sponsors of APAH Month at Asia Society Texas

Asian American Bar Association of Houston
Comcast

Past APAH Month Calendars

2022: Highlights | Details
2021: Details

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.