About APAture

What is APAture?

Kearny Street Workshop's APAture is an annual multidisciplinary arts festival presenting the work of emerging Asian Pacific American (APA) artists living and/or working in the San Francisco Bay Area. APAture's mission is to provide emerging artists with an early experience presenting their work at a large event; to build audiences for emerging artists; to strengthen the sense of community among our emerging artists; and to raise awareness of the existence of and diversity within the APA arts community. APAture values community-building, ethnic and artistic diversity, and collaboration across ethnic and disciplinary lines.

Now in its 9th year, APAture includes a visual arts show, film screenings, workshops, panel discussions, literary readings, performances in spoken word, music, dance, theater, and other performance genres, and an area for zinesters and comic artists to display and sell their work. 

Each year APAture also features a select group of artists who exemplify the work being done in their discipline.

Who can submit to APAture?

Emerging Asian Pacific American artists living or working in the San Francisco Bay Area can submit their work to APAture. Artists may submit their work under five categories:

• visual arts
• music/sound
• film/video/projection
• performance
• literary/print/spoken word

APAture presents the work of emerging APA artists. By "emerging," KSW includes a broad range of experience and expertise, from artists who have never before presented their work at a public event to artists who are already beginning to gain public recognition.

APAture's Call for Submissions is now open. Please click here for a PDF of the APAture 2008 call for submissions and application form, or submit online here. The deadline is July 7, 2008.

To receive announcements about APAture, including upcoming special events and fundraisers, join KSW's email list.

How are artists selected for APAture?

APAture is planned and curated by a committee of volunteer organizers. The group first meets in February, and over the next six months plans every aspect of the APAture program. This planning committee breaks up into five curatorial committees, one for each of the categories to which artists may submit, that evaluate the submissions and decide which work is accepted.

If you are interested in joining the APAture planning committee, contact us.

Who organizes APAture?

Kearny Street Workshop is committed to using the experience of APAture organizing to train the next generation of community leaders and cultural workers in the Bay Area's APA communities. A planning committee of about 15 volunteer organizers works closely with KSW Staff--the APAture coordinator and Executive Director--to plan, jury, and curate the entire festival. The APAture planning committee changes from year to year, and is open to anyone who is interested in organizing this kind of event. If you are interested in joining the APAture planning committee, contact us.

How can I be involved in APAture?

Anyone who is interested in organizing APAture is encouraged to join the planning committee (see "Who organizes APAture," above), which first convenes at the APAture retreat in February.

If you do not want to be on the planning committee, there are many other ways to be involved. APAture is always in need of volunteers for publicity activities, fundraising events leading up to APAture, and of course volunteers during the event itself. Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering.