Asian American Resource Center Event Calendar

Upcoming AARC Events

Youth Voices Rising • Fall 2023

An 8-week leadership academy for Asian American youth, grades 6th - 8th grade, to learn about selected aspects of Asian American history through award-winning graphic texts. Learn about Chinese, South Asian, Korean,and Vietnamese American histories and create a digital multimodal video using animation, sound, text and photos! Hosted by the Asian American Resource Center with support from the Center for Asian American Studies and Asian Texans for Justice. Participants who complete 7 out of 8 sessions will receive a set of four graphic novels and a certificate of completion from the University of Texas at Austin's Center for Asian American Studies. Snacks provided. Fee required upon acceptance into the program. Registration now closed.

Class Dates: October 14, 21, 28, November 4, 11, 18, and December 2 and 9.

Hyphenated Book Club • 11/28 • 6PM-7:30PM

The Hyphenated Book Club is back for a new year! Join fellow book lovers in the community to dive into works by authors in the Asian diaspora. From new releases by emerging voices to beloved community favorites, fiction to non-fiction and everything in-between, explore the diversity of literature from an Asian diasporic lens. All meet ups are free and open to the public to attend. All sessions are hosted in person at the AARC. See below for Hyphenated's reading list and meet up dates.

~~January 17 – 6PM-7:30PM - The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar~~
~~March 21 – 6PM-7:30PM - After Parties by Anthony Veasna So~~
~~May 23 – 6PM-7:30PM - Making A Scene by Constance Wu~~
~~July 18 – 6PM-7:30PM - The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo~~
~~September 26 – 6PM-7:30PM -~~ ~~These Impossible Things~~ ~~by Salma El-Wardany~~
November 28 – 6PM-7:30PM - Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

AARC Film Series: The Farewell & Bitter Melon • 12/1 & 12/9 • 7PM

Experience a dynamic cinematic journey with the Asian American Resource Center (AARC)’s FREE film program. This series pairs two films with similar themes or narratives and invites you to explore how they intersect and contrast, sparking reflection on the Asian American experience.

This December, see how the stories of 2 different families play out during a time of gathering in our first installment, Family Matters: The Farewell (2019) & Bitter Melon (2019) Film Screenings. Dive into two comedy-drama films that deal with the complexities of cultural silence, mortality, collectivism, and unspoken love.

The Farewell will be shown December 1 at 7 pm, and Bitter Melon will be shown December 9 at 7 pm. Join us 30 minutes before each screening starts to get settled in and enjoy food, fun previews, and a short trivia activity! We’ll have free snacks (as supplies last) and a delicious food vendor. Chairs will be set up, but you’re welcome to bring blankets, lawn chairs, etc. if you want to get cozy on the floor. While you’re there, feel free to take a look around the AARC, explore our upcoming programming, and view the current art exhibits on display!

RSVP at aarcatx.eventbrite.com

AARC Fall/Winter 2023 Exhibit Reception • 12/2 • 6PM-8PM

The AARC is thrilled to present its Fall/Winter 2023 Exhibits: Spine Songs by Irene June Chau and Great Value! Heritage Objects and Da Kine by Jasmine Chock. These exhibits will be on-view from November 20th, 2023 - February 11th, 2024. Please join us for an artist reception on Saturday, December 2nd from 6-8pm. Light refreshments will be provided. RSVP at aarcatx.eventbrite.com.

Irene June’s Spine Songs is a site specific body that works to access ancestral spine. June’s practice encompasses their personal relationship with ancestral prayer, transgenderhood, and Taiwanese heritage. Using visual similarities between geologic bodies and human bodies, June places the spine as an axis between heaven and earth. Ancestral spine, a site for assertion and unwavering self worship, is the nerve, audacity, and bravery to exist fully. Spine Songs builds a space that allows for the enormity of self in its multiplicities. Transness is the body remembering itself. Through the lens of the spine, Irene June invites audiences to engage in a personal narrative of diasporic reconciliation and healing, and to access the depths and inherent godliness of transgender identity.

In Great Value! Heritage Objects and Da Kine, Jasmine Chock transforms everyday consumer items to create new sculptural objects that represent her personal cultural heritage spanning three centuries in China, Hawai’i, and Texas. While she is physically far from the places her family is from, she connects with the traditions of her ancestors in her practice through recognizing traditions, like lei making, routines, such as saving plastic bags, and buying canned delicacies at the store like spam. Chock uses clay, found objects, textiles, video and other digital media to create humorous and unexpected connections in this body of work, exploring her cultural identity and sharing its traditions.

AARC Community & In House Exhibits • ONGOING • FREE

The AARC’s Community Art Exhibit Program displays artworks year round that celebrate the diverse and dynamic cultural heritage, history, identity and creativity of Asian American Pacific Islanders. Exhibits are displayed on a quarterly schedule. Learn more by visiting: www.austintexas.gov/page/asian-american-resource-center-exhibits

Ongoing Senior Programs

AARC staff is excited to start offering limited wellness classes at the facility and continue virtual classes starting August 30th. To register, email us at AARC@austintexas.gov or contact us at 512-974-1700 for more information. Learn more about the current class schedule, how to register, and modified operational guidelines by visiting: www.austintexas.gov/page/aarc-senior-programming

Current programming includes:

Tai Chi with Mr. Huang
Gentle Chair Yoga with Patti
Ping Pong
Senior Garden Group
Tai Chi with Vince Cobalis or Gongxian
Movement and Meditation

ACC - ESL Classes • Tuesdays and Thursdays • 6PM - 9PM

ACC's free ESL courses help non-native speakers learn basic English for college or the workplace, or simply to become more comfortable with everyday communication. Check the ESL Class Schedule to view a variety of days and times.

Current Contract Instructor Programs

Yoga For All • Various Dates 11/7 - 12/5 • 6PM-7PM: Yoga for All is back!

An all-level Hatha yoga class. One hour of meditation, breathing exercises and a combination of active and yin yoga. Open to all levels and abilities.
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6pm - 7pm at AARC 11/7 - 12/5* no class 11/23
$5 per class, no registration required

Mohit Mehta is a certified yoga teacher who believes that yoga should be accessible to all-inclusive of ability and age.
This program is offered through the PARD Contract Instructor program.

External Events

Restorative Art Workshop • 11/30 • 5PM-7PM

Based on indigenous wisdom from the Philippines and all four directions, when we restore our natural state of being, we unlock our natural gifts that add tremendous value into our community and Mother Earth. Join the Restorative Art for Nature healing workshop on November 30, 5pm, at the AARC Community Room 1 for a restorative journey with and for Mother Earth!

Learn more and register at the Eventbrite page.

Gaza Film Series • 11/30, 12/12, 12/19

Palestinian Assembly will host The GAZA Film Series - A series of documentary films about life in the Gaza strip. This event is open to the public and free of charge. Space is limited, so it is first-come first-serve.

Palassembly.org

Community Voices Workshop • 12/3 • 2PM-4PM

Want to try something NEW? Do something CREATIVE and FUN? MEET new people?

Join Andrea Ariel Dance Theatre for this free community workshop offering a safe space to be creative, share stories, move, engage in meaningful dialogues, and explore innovative ways to connect with new people AND create something together. We will play fun movement and theater games and explore other creative-based structures to engage in an investigation about things that are important to us.

https://CommunityVoicesWorkshopFree.eventbrite.com

All movement-based activities are designed for participation and adaption for ANY physical ability or experience, even while seated. No dance or theater experience is needed!

Produced in coordination with the AARC Artist Access Program and this project supported in part by the City of Austin Economic Development Department.

Mandarin Workout Club • 12/2 • 10AM-12PM

It's totally FREE to join the club! You just need to register with your email address, and we will send calendar invite to the email you provided with the event details. If you want to attend the event, simply click "accept" to register for the event. The club event calendar invitation will then be sent to your email. Check your spam folder if it does not show up in the inbox.

Diversity Band Drum & Dance Workshop • Starting 1/14/24

Diversity Band invites you to register for the Spring 2024 Drumming & Dance workshop!

The workshop will introduce drumming culture across the world focusing on African and Indian drums. Instruments and professional teaching staff will be provided by the Austin Sister Cities International's Diversity Band. Learn more and register by scanning the QR code on flyer or visiting the link.

Produced in coordination with the AARC Artist Access Program and this project supported in part by the City of Austin Economic Development Department.

The AARC is a public facility with free community rooms available for non-commercial usage and also includes rental spaces including the AARC Ballroom, Classrooms, Conference Room and Foyer available for public and private functions. The AARC is not responsible for the community rental and reservation events listed here.

The Calendar of Events provides a listing of events scheduled at the AARC. Only AARC sponsored events, confirmed rental events and public reservations are listed on the event calendar. Every attempt is made to provide accurate listings, but we cannot guarantee accuracy, service or quality of the listings presented due to unforeseen changes. While we strive to be up to date, the information provided may not always be the most recent information. To confirm availability of space for a rental booking, please contact AARC Rentals at AARCrentals@austintexas.gov or call 512-974-1698.

Event Calendar