Contemporary Asian Theater Scene (CATS) participates in a Statewide Gathering of California Asian American and Pacific Islander Arts Community

Contemporary Asian Theater Scene joined nearly 100 Asian Pacific American artists and arts administrators to participate in the Regional Gatherings of the California Asian American and Pacific Islander Arts Network (CAAPIAN) in San Francisco on Tuesday, June 4, 2002.  This historic gathering brought together artists, arts administrators and supporters from the diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander communities to network and plan for the future of AA/PI arts in California.  Discussion ranged from developing APA cultural arts centers and audience development to the challenges of funding and health benefits for artists and arts administrators.

Contemporary Asian Theatre Scene (affectionately known as CATS) was incorporated as a non-profit in 1995.  As a San José-based nonprofit theater presenter, CATS is dedicated to the advancement of artists of Asian-American heritage, and serves as a catalyst to promote the vitality and excellence of Asian-American theater.  CATS aims at presenting theatrical works dealing with contemporary Asian-American issues and concerns of the community at large, while contributing to the cultural enhancement of the City of San José and Santa Clara County.

CAAPIAN is an infrastructure project funded by the California Arts Council, administered by Visual Communications in Los Angeles and Asian Improv aRts in San Francisco.  The aim is to facilitate information dissemination and data collection between Asian American/Pacific Islander artists and arts organizations statewide in order to strengthen collaboration and advocacy.  There is an active listserv to disseminate state and national arts policy information, as well as funding and job opportunities. (The listserv can be joined by sending e-mail to leslie@vconline.org.)

The CAAPIAN coordinators are currently creating a directory of APA artists and arts agencies to support communication and to collect data about the impact of the APA arts community upon the cultural, social and economic life of California.  Data collection is essential to developing and shaping cultural arts policies in the state of California, and directly affects funding opportunities for the APA arts community.  The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AA/PI) arts community contributes greatly to the state’s economy, as employers and income generators.  These organizations directly serve more than one millions audience members each year and contribute to California’s social wellness.  AA/PI arts organizations also provide educational and cultural nourishment for youth and adults throughout the state of California.

For more information about CAAPIAN, please visit: www.vconline.org/caap.  The CAAPIAN website has background information, notes from the Regional Gatherings and an on-line directory form.  The CAAPIAN directory information and preliminary data findings will be posted on the website.  

CAAPIAN STEERING COMMITTEE

• Christine Padilla, Contemporary Asian Theater Scene (CATS)
  
• Roque Bucton, Association for the Advancement of Filipino Arts and Culture
  
• Dori Caminong, Pusod
  
• Jilly Canizares-Tanedo, Association for the Advancement of Filipino Arts and Culture
  
• Roy Hirabayashi, San Jose Taiko
  
• Alina Hua, National Asian American Telecommunications Association
  
• Ka’ala Jane Pang, Pacific Islander Community Council
  
• Victor Kaiwi Pang, Pacific Islander Community Council
  
• Jenni Kuida, Great Leap
  
• Sonia Mak, Chinese American Museum
  
• Arnold Marquez, San Diego Asian American Repertory Theatre
  
• Aimee Suzara, Filipino/American Coalition for Environmental Solutions
  
• Penina Taesali, Asian/Pacific Islander Youth Promoting Advocacy & Leadership
  
• Sarita Vasa, Indo-American Cultural and Community Center

CAAPIAN COORDINATORS

• Leslie Ito, Visual Communications
  
• Dina Shek and Vinay Patel, Asian Improv aRts
  

Questions? Email gwangung@u.washington.edu