explorASIAN Festival 2023
explorASIAN Festival 2022 is a Metro-Vancouver festival showcasing pan-Asian Canadian arts and culture during Asian Heritage Month in May 2023. The festival is a time to reflect on and celebrate the contributions Canadians of Asian origin continue to make to the growth and prosperity of Canada.
This year, explorASIAN programming continues to highlight the great achievements and contributions of Pan-Asian Canadians in the arts and culture scene, with expanded programming that reflects pressing issues facing Asian Canadian communities in Metro-Vancouver and further. The festival has over 60 in person, virtual, and live stream events.
explorASIAN was founded by and continues to be facilitated and promoted by the Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society (VAHMS)
explorASIAN 2023 Festival Program Guide
Check it out here.
Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society
The Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society (VAHMS) is the founder, facilitator, and promotor of explorASIAN. VAHMS is a registered secular non-profit organization with year-round programming in the arts and culture scene. VAHMS’ mission is to foster, promote, and celebrate the arts and cultural diversity that Asian-Canadian communities bring to Canadian society.
Since 1996, VAHMS has worked closely with local Asian-Canadian communities and organizations that support their vision of becoming the main hub for celebrating Asian-Canadian arts and culture in the Metro-Vancouver area. VAHMS not only faciliates its signature festival, explorASIAN, but also organizes and promotes programs and events throughout the year that:
- Educate the wider community about the importance of Asian-Canadian arts and culture in Canadian society
- Create opportunities for Asian-Canadians to network, collaborate and expand in public arts and cultural spaces
- Provide a safe platform to address critical issues facing Asian-Canadians and discuss solutions to foster inclusion and diversity in Canadian society
Press Releases
explorASIAN 2022 Press Release
(May 1-31)
explorASIAN Opening Ceremony Press Release
(April 30)
VAHMS Community Awards Celebration
Press Release
(May 21)
Coming Soon
Social Media Toolkit
Facebook:
explorASIAN
Instagram:
@explorasianfestival
Twitter:
@explorASIAN
Hashtags: #explorASIAN #explorASIANfestival #explorASIAN2022 #VAHMS #VancouverAsianHeritageSociety #VancouverAsianHeritageMonth
#AsianHeritageMonth
Testimonials
“explorASIAN is one of the most important festivals in Vancouver and British Columbia. For more than twenty years now, it has upheld the values of Canada’s diversity. In a time when racial antagonism is spreading throughout the world and in our community, the message and programming by explorASIAN is as relevant as ever, in understanding, educating, and bringing people together to share, celebrate, and enjoy each other’s cultures and beliefs.”
– Allan Cho, Executive Director, Asian Canadian Writers Workshop
“explorASIAN very quickly grew from a handful of Asian Canadian cultural events, scattered through the month of May, to become THE organizational medium for maximum exposure of cultural events planned to take place in and around the month of May by affiliated pan-Asian Canadian cultural organizations.”
– Jan Walls, PhD Professor Emeritus, Department of Humanities, Simon Fraser University
“Now more than ever in the midst of a pandemic and visible anti-racism sentiment we are fostering and strengthening a sense of belonging as well as retaining pride in our Asian roots. So looking forward to our 25th anniversary celebration.”
– Jeff Chan, VAHMS, Ambassador
“VAHMS’ community outreach is exceptional—their programs are inclusive, diverse, and always relevant. They’re a bedrock of the community.”
– Lou Corpuz-Bosshart, VAHMS volunteer (2019)
Contact Us
If you have any questions related to media or press, please contact our Marketing & Communications Director at communications.vahms@gmail.com.