The mission of the APIDA Arts is to amplify and unify Asian, Pacific Island, and Desi/South Asian American artists in Chicago by showcasing their work at premier cultural institutions, providing greater representation, equity, and opportunity. This festival is free and open to the public.

Any amount helps lift the work of Asian, Pacific Island, and Desi/South Asian American artists. No amount is too small! When you donate to APIDA Arts you are supporting:

Asians are the fastest growing population in Chicago and have become an integral part of Chicago’s cultural fiber. Due to the vast diversity in the countries defined as Asian, it is difficult to truly represent the breadth and depth of the diaspora under one “race”. There is still a lack of consensus on which acronym best describes us in America: APA, APIA, AAPI, APIDA, and APISAA are all popularly used terms. As Asian, Pacific Island, and Desi/South Asian American living in Chicago, we can be unified through our creativity and imagination. Living as a minority in the Midwest, APIDA artists define our own culture through our passion for creative expression.