History and Mission
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History and Mission
The idea for the Center for Asian Arts and Media at Columbia College Chicago had long been on Nancy Tom's mind. Sensing a growing interest in contemporary Asian/Asian American art along with a growing Asian/Pacific Islander population, Tom believed there was a need for a better understanding of historical and contemporary contributions by
Asians and Asian Americans to art, history, and culture. With the help of Dr. Woodie White, who at the time was a Vice-President at Columbia College Chicago, Tom created the Center, which opened its doors on January 5, 1998.
As our mission states, we welcome and support all people in their enjoyment and appreciation of Asian and Asian American culture and the pursuit of lifelong learning. We strive to provide equal access to the arts and media fields through performances, public discussions, lectures, conferences, exhibitions, and non-academic instruction by and about Asians and Asian Americans. By working together, we will strive to help all people--Asians and non-Asians--better understand and address global issues through the arts and media. The Center offers a variety of arts-related programming including dance, theater, and music performances; exhibits; publications; and public forums. Our role is to focus attention on projects of high artistic merit in the contemporary arts with educational components as well as feature the very finest Asian and Asian American artists in large-scale programs that engage both Asians and non-Asians.
The Center for Asian Arts and Media is unique because of its mission to embrace all art forms--visual, performing, and media arts--as they relate to Asian culture and because of its affiliation to Columbia College Chicago. Columbia is the fifth largest private educational institution in Illinois with a current enrollment of approximately 11,000 students, of which a growing percentage of both undergraduate and graduate students are of Asian/Pacific Islander ancestry. Columbia College has an excellent reputation for community involvement through similar programs such as the Center for Black Music Research, the Dance Center, the Institute for the Study of Women & Gender in the Arts and Media, and the Center for Community Arts Partnerships.
Asians and Asian Americans to art, history, and culture. With the help of Dr. Woodie White, who at the time was a Vice-President at Columbia College Chicago, Tom created the Center, which opened its doors on January 5, 1998.
As our mission states, we welcome and support all people in their enjoyment and appreciation of Asian and Asian American culture and the pursuit of lifelong learning. We strive to provide equal access to the arts and media fields through performances, public discussions, lectures, conferences, exhibitions, and non-academic instruction by and about Asians and Asian Americans. By working together, we will strive to help all people--Asians and non-Asians--better understand and address global issues through the arts and media. The Center offers a variety of arts-related programming including dance, theater, and music performances; exhibits; publications; and public forums. Our role is to focus attention on projects of high artistic merit in the contemporary arts with educational components as well as feature the very finest Asian and Asian American artists in large-scale programs that engage both Asians and non-Asians.
The Center for Asian Arts and Media is unique because of its mission to embrace all art forms--visual, performing, and media arts--as they relate to Asian culture and because of its affiliation to Columbia College Chicago. Columbia is the fifth largest private educational institution in Illinois with a current enrollment of approximately 11,000 students, of which a growing percentage of both undergraduate and graduate students are of Asian/Pacific Islander ancestry. Columbia College has an excellent reputation for community involvement through similar programs such as the Center for Black Music Research, the Dance Center, the Institute for the Study of Women & Gender in the Arts and Media, and the Center for Community Arts Partnerships.