Lan Tung, Lenore RS Lim and Indian Summer Arts Society recognized for contributions to cultural diversity in Vancouver
People and projects that have made outstanding contributions to cultural growth and diversity will be honoured Friday, June 7 by the Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society.
Highly accomplished print artist Lenore RS Lim is recognized for creating opportunities for visual and performing artists to share their work with a wider audience. The driving force behind the Filipino Music and Art Foundation in BC, Lim is a passionate mentor of talent and a tireless promoter of family and community connections across cultures and generations.
Lan Tung is an erhu performer, composer and concert producer who has promoted cross-cultural collaboration between musicians from Asia and the West for more than 20 years. Lan is the artistic director of the Orchid Ensemble, Sound of Dragon Society/Sound of Dragon Music Festival and Proliferasian. She organizes educational programs for young audiences and the public, lectures at the post-secondary level, and has led several residencies with different organizations.
The Indian Summer Arts Society stages the Indian Summer Festival as part of its mission of creating an inclusive, culturally rich society. Now a multi-arts, multicultural, multi-gender and multi-racial event, the festival features more than 200 artists, both emerging talent as well as global names, and activities ranging from neighbourhood walking tours to dialogues about gentrification.
These honorees were nominated by community members and picked by a jury working alongside the Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society (VAHMS), which organizes explorASIAN, the annual celebration of Asian Heritage Month held every May in Vancouver.
“Over the past four weeks, explorASIAN has staged or supported more than 50 highly successful events promoting Asian Canadian cultures across Metro Vancouver,” said VAHMS president Leticia Sánchez. “Now we want to take this moment to celebrate those whose contributions helped make this possible and contributed to making the Asian Canadian community the powerhouse of arts, culture and community that it is today.”
She added: “We are inspired by their example, we are moved by their commitment, and we’re thrilled to work with them in promoting pan-Asian community in Vancouver and beyond!”
The Pan-Asian Recognition Awards will be handed out Friday, June 7 at Vancouver’s Pink Pearl Restaurant. The event will be emceed by radio personalities Margaret Gallagher of CBC Radio and Alireza Ahmadian of Spice Radio.
Highlights include a 10-course Chinese dinner, silent auction and raffle, and a live painting demonstration by siblings Celia Leung and John Leung, who will show their skills and different painting styles.
Vancouver-based Son of James will entertain guests with their unique Asian-influenced rock, jazz and pop. Srikandi Indonesia, led by Firda Wijaya, will present the dances of Java, including the Merak (peacock) dance characterized by delicate hand movements and set to traditional gamelan music.
The event is a fundraiser aimed at creating more opportunities for young scholars and artists to take a more active role in the development of new ideas to continue enriching the cultural fabric, according to Sánchez.
“In its 23rd year, VAHMS is more committed than ever to providing a platform to showcase the different pan-Asian communities and Asian-Canadian cultures,” said Sánchez. “Through multilateral, multigenerational interactions, we aim to promote a more equitable, functional society with room for all and with talent to spare!”
Dinner tickets ($75 or $675 for a table of 10) are still available via Eventbrite (https://bit.ly/2WnzExO) or contact office.vahms@gmail.com.
MEDIA: For interviews or more information please contact:
Dong Yue Su
Email: vancouver.asian.heritage.month@gmail.comTel: 604-401-5409
Lou Corpuz-Bosshart
Email: lou.bosshart@gmail.comTel: 604-999-0473
Photos: Dropbox:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/c5y9wzbwdn2oyqo/AADq32jvP4NT1A2uiJJdxPD9a?dl=0