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Indiana Historical Society Celebrates Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Asian Fest
The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) celebrates Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May with the 17th Annual Asian Fest, hosted by the Asian American Alliance Inc. (AAAI).
Asian Fest 2023 takes place Saturday, May 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, located at 450 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis.
This free event is family-friendly and welcomes everyone. Indiana has been home to more than 175,000 Asian American and Pacific Islander people representing more than 45 countries. There will be live music and dance performances from more than 15 arts institutes, and Eli Lilly Hall will offer arts and hands-on activities.
In addition, there will be a variety of delicious food and drinks as well as free health screenings and healthy lifestyle counseling. Admission is free, but advance registration is encouraged. You can register for Asian Fest 2023 here: https://bit.ly/42cKBQs.
“As much as Asian Fest is a fun festival, it also serves as an education program for Hoosiers to learn about Asian culture,” said AAAI President Rupal Thanawala. “One can learn about a new musical instrument, art form, language and history.”
After the kickoff of Asian Fest, for two more weeks visitors to the Indiana Historical Society can continue celebrating Asian cultures through IHS’s traveling exhibit, Be Heard: Asian Experiences in Indiana, and a display of cultural outfits representing multiple nations and regions of Asia.
During Heritage Days and Nights at IHS, guests will also get to experience additional activities like performances and arts and crafts — including origami, Yoga Zone, Chinese Tangrams, Korean pelt drums and cherry blossom painting. Heritage Days and Nights take place on the dates listed below:
- Heritage Night: Tuesday, May 16 from 5 to 8 p.m.
- David Suzuki, Ph.D., will speak on May 16 at 6:30 p.m. His talk is titled “Asian Americans through Hoosier Eyes — the Myth of the Model Minority” and will discuss myths surrounding the Asian American culture, including origins, reasons for its longevity and the contemporary impact of its fallacies.
- Heritage Day: Saturday, May 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- A book talk on Asian American Voices in Indiana and book signing with Nicole Martinez-LeGrand and Nancy Nakano Conner takes place May 20 at 1 p.m.
- Heritage Night: Tuesday, May 23 from 5 to 8 p.m.
- Heritage Day: Saturday, May 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Hoosier Asian Celebration is presented by the Lacy Foundation, in partnership with the Asian American Alliance Inc. and Smithsonian Affiliations.
