Asian American Resource Center Opens
Discover Austin’s beautiful Asian American Resource Center at its grand opening on Saturday, September 28. The AARC, an important new cultural destination for Northeast Austin and our Asian-heritage community, is at 8401 Cameron Road. At the celebration, from 10am – 4pm, enjoy an outdoor street festival as well as indoor performances and entertainment for all ages. Plus, see Lotus, a major outdoor sculpture by Austin artists Sunyong Chung and Philippe Klinefelter.
The City’s new resource center, many years in the planning, provides a special place for Austinites to celebrate varied Asian American cultures, heritage and art. An architectural gem, it was created by a team of local design talent and other firms.
Programming will include top-notch Asian and Asian-American programs, education and public talks, cultural festivals, art exhibition, and programs to advance Asian-American economic interests and global connections. Its location, just north of 183 and east of I-35, is near the heart of a diverse and growing Asian-American community in Austin.
At the grand opening, the lively street festival will feature a music stage, community information booths, vendors, children’s activities, and performers. The indoor stage in the grand ballroom will feature a variety of pan-Asian performances and entertainment.
The major sculpture Lotus, sited in the entrance plaza, features 9-foot tall, hand-carved granite "petals" encircling a 12-foot diameter mosaic lotus flower. The lotus flower has a special cultural importance in many Asian countries. Austin Art in Public Places commissioned the local artists to create the site-specific work.
Visitors can also tour the resource center (which can be rented for private functions). It features nine classrooms, library/computer lab, conference room, assembly hall, and cultural exhibitions/display spaces. Design and construction of the AARC was funded by the City of Austin, the federal government, and private donations. Read more here.