A Letter from the Executive Director
As 2025 draws to a close, I’m reflecting on an extraordinary year of growth for the Asian American Arts Alliance (A4). What began as a New York-based network has steadily become a vital national alliance. This year, we served as the fiscal sponsor for National Asian Pacific American Museum Commission, and I was proud to be in the crowd witnessing the historic swearing-in in our nation’s capital. Secondly, we awarded $500,000 in general operating support to our inaugural A4 Arts Fund cohort. We received an overwhelming number of applications from 33 states, plus Washington, DC, and the US island territory of Guam. I’ve just joined Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s transition advisory committee on Arts & Culture. All of this expands our mission to connect, support, and amplify AAPI artists and arts organizations across the country.
But with this growing presence comes a sobering truth: while the talent, creativity, and vision of AAPI artists are boundless, the funding opportunities available to them are not.
According to a recent study by the Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP), less than 0.5% of all philanthropic dollars go to AAPI communities. Even within that small fraction, arts and culture organizations receive only a sliver. This inequity leaves countless AAPI artists and organizations without the resources they need to thrive—or even survive.
At A4, we’re working to change this. We are:
- Expanding programs that connect AAPI artists with new opportunities nationwide.
- Advocating for greater equity and visibility in arts funding at local, state, and federal levels.
- Building a stronger, united voice for AAPI cultural workers.
This Giving Tuesday, I invite you to stand with us. Your support ensures that AAPI artists and organizations are not only seen, but resourced equitably. Together, we can help shift the landscape so that the next generation of AAPI creators has the resources to soar.
Please make your gift today and fuel this movement for equity in the arts.
