What Can We Do?
What Can We Do? (WCWD?) is an artist grant program that supports artists and their creative projects showing care to the AAPI community in NYC. The program was created in response to the sharp increase in anti-Asian hate and violence during the pandemic which caused many people to experience grief, anxiety, and fear. WCWD? empowers artists, giving them a chance to find their place in the ecosystem of care through their talents and community connections.
This program is presented by the Asian American Arts Alliance (A4) and is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Special thanks to Council Members Christopher Marte and Sandra Ung. Projects focused on the support of Palestinian creators and their communities are supported by the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice.
Applications are now closed. We will announce the awardees in early February 2025. Learn more.
View other Fellowships & Awards:
Project: “Whose AI?” was a socially engaged art project and workshop series designed to empower young people from underserved and underrepresented communities to co-construct a clearer understanding of Conversational AI. The first workshop was held at the Glow Cultural Center in Flushing, Queens, and the second workshop was held at Chatham Square Library in Chinatown, Manhattan.
Project: A six-week training in Wing Chun, a Chinese self-defense form, and custom-designed training accessories were provided for free to community members – held at Baxter St. Camera Club in Chinatown, Manhattan.
Photo by Tommy Kha
Project: An in-person viewing party of a short film in Hoisan and Cantonese, subtitled in English, around emotional/mental health – held at The Market Line in the LES, Manhattan.
This project is made possible with support from The Market Line.
Photo by Peter Konerko
Project: A free, open-level dance workshop for the AAPI community that explored community and self care through movement and play – held at the Brooklyn Arts Exchange in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Photo by CONFIDANZ
Project: A free workshop inviting AAPI women to share about their Asian heritage and life experiences – held at the Garment District, Manhattan.
Photo by Tom Matthew Wolfe
Project: A two-part Zen meditation workshop – the first part of the workshop introduced the basics of meditation, the second part deepened the practice and offered participants time to reflect on how practice has helped them. The workshop was organized for the staff of Communities Resist at Marsha P. Johnson State Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Photo by Beowulf Sheehan
Project: “All That We Hold” was a piece choreographed by Noah and his collaborator, Audrey Thao Berger, that explored the longing to understand ancestors through movement, narrative and music – held at Arts On Site in NoHo, Manhattan.
Photo by RJ Lewis
Project: A storytelling pop-up book workshop serving youth, with the goal to help them tell their stories, express their truth, and take pride in their culture and identity held at the Chatham Square Library in Chinatown, Manhattan.
This project was made possible with support from the Children’s Museum of the Arts.
Project: A zine of photographs taken in 2020-2022 capturing the joy of community members coming together for various Chinatown events was printed and distributed for free.
Photo by Michael Stewart
Project: Two letter writing gatherings invited community members to write letters to loved ones – the first was held at the ROAR Festival at Sara D. Roosevelt Park in Chinatown, Manhattan, and the second was held at the Elizabeth Street Garden in Nolita, Manhattan.
Photo by David Straange
Project: Dana Leon of TEKTONIKmusic.org led a virtual healing music session for the AAPI community affected by domestic and public acts of violence in partnership with Womankind.
Photo by Zoe Zhang
Project: An interactive piano performance and workshop for the senior community at Hamilton-Madison House in the LES, Manhattan. The performance featured Chinese folk tunes, music of living Chinese composers, and some Western classical pieces sprinkled in.
Photo by Douglas Gorenstein
Project: A custom quadriptych mural project painted in partnership with the youth members of SAYA in Elmhurst, Queens. The mural represents timeless themes highlighting the diverse communities and unique qualities around Queens that SAYA calls home.
Photo by Louie Herman
Project: “The Blu Room” was a one-man multi-lingual, multi-cultural theatrical act presented in a late-night talk show format on topics like the generational gap, anti-Asian hate crimes, beauty standards, mental health, and empowerment – hosted at Prime Produce in Hell’s Kitchen.
This project is made possible with support from Prime Produce.
Photo by Dennis Kwan
Project: A public workshop of Buried Ruins, a full-length play with a cast of all Vietnamese/AAPI artists centered on healing and processing generational trauma, as well as, living in a society that fetishizes and enacts violence against women and femme bodies – held at 59E59 Theatre in Midtown, Manhattan.
Photo by Sub/Urban Photography
Project: “Embodying Pleasure as Resistance” was a workshop focused on nurturing the inner child through play and community care held at the A4 offices in DUMBO, Brooklyn.
Photo by Justin Kim
Project: “Start with My Name” was a sewing workshop that invited participants to share their name through embroidery; each embroidery was sewn onto a community quilt – held at the Museum of Chinese in America in Chinatown, Manhattan.
This project was made possible with support from Fiskars.
