About Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program
The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program (APAC) is a unique initiative that aims to promote and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Asian Pacific Americans. The program is part of the Smithsonian Institution, which is the world's largest museum and research complex, with 19 museums, nine research centers, and more than 137 million objects in its collections.
The APAC was established in 1997 as a way to recognize the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans to American history and culture. Since then, it has become a leading voice for promoting diversity and inclusion in museums and cultural institutions across the country.
One of the key goals of APAC is to tell Asian Pacific American stories through innovative museum experiences. This means creating exhibitions that are engaging, interactive, and thought-provoking. The program works closely with curators, scholars, artists, community leaders, and other stakeholders to develop exhibitions that reflect diverse perspectives on history, art, culture, science, technology and more.
Some notable exhibitions organized by APAC include "I Want the Wide American Earth: An Asian Pacific American Story," which explores how Asian Pacific Americans have shaped America's past present; "Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation," which showcases Indian-American contributions to U.S society; "A Day in the Life: Artists' Diaries from Asia," which features contemporary art from across Asia; among others.
In addition to organizing exhibitions at its own facility at National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C., APAC also collaborates with other museums across America on traveling exhibits. These exhibits bring stories about Asian-Pacific-American communities directly into local communities around America.
Another important aspect of APAC's work is education outreach programs aimed at students from K-12 schools as well as college students. These programs provide opportunities for students to learn about different cultures through hands-on activities such as workshops or field trips.
APAC also hosts public events such as film screenings or panel discussions featuring prominent figures from various fields including arts & culture , politics , business etc . These events provide an opportunity for people from all walks of life to engage with each other on issues related diversity & inclusion .
Overall , The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program plays an important role in promoting understanding between different cultures within America . Its innovative approach towards storytelling has helped it gain recognition not only within US but globally too . With its continued efforts towards promoting diversity & inclusion , we can expect many more exciting initiatives coming out from this program in future!