explorASIAN Festival 25th Anniversary Begins May 1–May 31, 2021

The Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society (VAHMS) announces the countdown to its much anticipated 25th Anniversary explorASIAN 2021 Festival from May 1– 31, 2021.

explorASIAN is an annual Metro-Vancouver festival showcasing pan-Asian Canadian arts and culture during Asian Heritage Month in May. Programming continues to showcase the great achievements and contributions of Canadians of Asian descent in the arts and culture scene, with expanded programming that reflects pressing issues facing Asian-Canadian communities in Metro-Vancouver.

This year, there are over 50 virtual and live stream events in the festival. Highlights from the festival include:

• explorASIAN Virtual Opening Ceremony, May 1st, 8pm-9pm: Virtual opening and illumination of City Hall and Science World to mark the beginning of Asian Heritage Month and explorASIAN 2021.

• Bird Tracks in the Air: Selected Poems of Wang Anshi, April 15th, 7pm-8:30pm: Virtual book launch in collaboration with The Canadian Society for Asian Arts (CSAA).

• Oceans of Stories: National Canadian Film Day, April 21st, 4:30pm: Virtual discussion of refugee stories followed by the screening of Continuous Journey with Reel Canada.

• Firehorse & Shadow, May 1st-31st: Online video by Andrea Nann combining elements of dance, shadow puppetry, animation & more.

• Interconnections in a New World, May 1st-June 30th: Art exhibition expressing how relationships between individuals, friends, family and countries have changed during COVID.

• Encounters – Asian Fusion, May 4th-27th: Online exhibition presented by Semiahmoo Arts showcasing artwork around the theme of “Pan-Asian heritage and art”.

• Exploring Asian Heritage in Vancouver, May 6th, 5pm-6pm: Virtual webinar to reflect on the meaning of Asian Heritage Month.

• Asian Stages: Asian Opera in Canada, May 14th, 5pm-6:30pm: Virtual conversation on different Asian operatic styles and performances.

• Vancouver Chinatown Walkabout, May 16th, 10am-11am: Virtual walking tour of Vancouver’s historical Chinatown buildings and businesses.

• Unity in Diversity – Alireza Ahmadian’s Living Legacy, May 23rd, 6pm-7:30pm: Virtual discussion on being united in diversity with Mostafa Abedinifard and guest speakers.

• On the Move: National Asian Heritage Celebration, May 29th, 5pm-7pm: A national showcase bringing together artists from Montréal, Vancouver, and Winnipeg.

• Recognition Awards Ceremony & Silent Auction, June 10th, 7pm-9pm: Virtual ceremony to recognize those who contribute to the appreciation of Asian-Canadian arts and culture.

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