麻豆传媒

By Rebecca Kirkman on August 9, 2021

The Asian Arts & Culture Center (AA&CC) at Towson University was recognized as the 鈥渂est art space鈥� in Baltimore 尘补驳补锄颈苍别鈥檚 list.

Hailed by the editors as 鈥渁n invaluable resource for sharing cultures and bringing people together,鈥� the AA&CC鈥攚hich celebrates its 50th anniversary this year鈥攚as also recognized in the feature鈥檚 Hall of Fame, designating local mainstays that deserve 鈥渁 little extra pat on the back in these tumultuous times.鈥�

For AA&CC Program Manager Nerissa Paglinauan, the recognition is a welcome confirmation of the work the center has done to engage the community in cross-cultural dialogue through artistic and cultural learning experiences.

鈥淚t means we鈥檙e doing what we鈥檙e supposed to be doing, and it鈥檚 nice being recognized by members of the arts community for all the work we do, all the stories that we鈥檙e trying to share and just trying to bring the community together,鈥� says Paglinauan, who hopes the recognition will inspire new visitors to the AA&CC. 鈥淲e鈥檝e always been considered this hidden gem, but we want to be the bright, sparkly gem that everybody recognizes.鈥�

This fall, the center continues its 50th anniversary theme 鈥淓levAsian: Honoring AAPI Experiences鈥� with the return of the (AIM) exhibition and 鈥淥ur Stories鈥� festival.

Running from Sept. 8鈥揇ec. 11, AIM programming includes a community exhibition featuring work by Maryland artists who are Asian and Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), as well as an opening reception and complementary programming. 

Read more: TU鈥檚 Asian Arts & Culture Center marks 50th anniversary with virtual programming

First launched in 2015, AIM uplifts and showcases the voices and stories of Asian and AAPI artists and communities with a variety of exhibits and programs. Maryland has more than 500,000 residents who trace their roots to Asian and Pacific Island countries, the majority of which are concentrated around TU in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. regions. 

For AA&CC鈥檚 AIM exhibition in fall 2018, 33 artists displayed pieces in the Asian Arts Gallery, most of whom鈥攊ncluding Maryland First Lady Yumi Hogan鈥攕hared their work personally with 142 guests on opening day.

鈥淲e are trying to use this series to build a community and support local artists who are Asian and AAPI,鈥� says Paglinauan. 鈥淎nd it has been so successful. It's a great time to bring it back, especially when we're really trying to elevate voices and perspectives of the Asian and AAPI communities.鈥�

This fall also includes the return of the festival 鈥淥ur Stories,鈥� kicking off in October. Last spring, 27 artists from Baltimore to Bengaluru, India, shared personal and cultural stories about life in quarantine, racism, relationships, mortality, immigration, loneliness and sustainable living through narrative, music, art, film and more.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a way to open your mind by looking at something from a different perspective,鈥� says AA&CC Director Joanna Pecore. 鈥淚t dawned on me that stories are a good way to do that. Everyone has a story to tell.鈥�

Other TU Best of Baltimore 麻豆传媒 include 鈥渂est straight shooter鈥� Lisa Snowden-McCray 鈥�03, managing editor of The Real News and editor of the Baltimore Beat, whose work the feature鈥檚 editors say has 鈥渃hanged Baltimore鈥檚 journalism landscape;鈥� and local artist Juliet Ames 鈥�05, of the Broken Plate Co., for 鈥渂est street art,鈥� who sparked a 鈥渜uintessentially Baltimore movement鈥� by converting the region鈥檚 iconic yellow salt boxes into works of art. 

save the dates

Asian Arts & Culture Center Fall Programming

Sept. 8鈥揇ec. 11, opening reception 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10
Asian Arts Gallery, CA 2037

Asia in Maryland engages the community and showcases the stories of Maryland-based Asian and AAPI artists and creatives. The series, which launched in 2015, increases awareness and understanding of Maryland鈥檚 diversity through exhibitions, workshops, family programs, performances, courses and more. 

鈥淥ur Stories鈥� Festival
Kicks off in October
Details forthcoming

The 鈥淥ur Stories鈥� festival offers a safe space to share, listen and connect with one another and celebrate our common humanity. The festival joins diverse communities and generations through the theme of stories and welcomes contributions on various topics and in a wide range of formats such as narrative, music, art or video.