Asian American Arts Centre

August 3rd, 2006

The following is an informal translation of an article that appeared in the Sintao Daily on August 3rd, 2006. It is posted here to help inform the Asian community and their need to be pro-active in acquiring and stabilizing public resources that can benefit Chinatown culturally and economically.

LMDC Is Stepping into the Sunset

Chinatown Community Organizations Worries the Whereabouts of Funds By Sintao Reporter Chan Jia-Hwai

Following last weekÂ’'s news that LMDC is stepping into the Sunset, the Chief Executive Stefan Pryor announced at the beginning of this month, that in September, 2006, he will become the Assistant Mayor of Newark, NJ. Although this news is not unexpected from the transient nature of LMDC, but to the community organizations that only less than 6 months ago were granted Cultural Enhancement Funds, whether LMDC could guarantee the existence of the millions of dollars for the Phase II, has become their greatest worry.

One of the Chinatown community organizations concerned about the future of LMDC funding is the Asian American Arts Centre that was awarded $135,000. Executive Director Robert Lee said that high level officials of LMDC has assured him that whatever the future of LMDC, the funds will be transferred to other appropriate departments to be administered. The 63 community organizations will receive the amounts awarded.

According to a LMDC public announcement in March, some organizations can still apply for the later Phase II funds. However, LMDCÂ’'s expected upcoming closing is giving this "future cheque" uncertainty. Robert Lee said that in the 70s when Percy Sutton was Manhattan Borough President, there was an incident of funds "disappearance". An award meant for a cultural center in Columbus Park, after its public announcement, disappeared and became an empty check.

"That this could happen again in NYC would not be surprising to me," said Mr. Lee. Asian American Arts Centre presently is making it last changes to its detailed plan to LMDC this week.

Another Chinatown community organization HT Chen Dance Center that received an award, has earlier delivered a complete plan. It is waiting for LMDC Board to release 50,000 grant in reimbursement format. HT Chen flatly stated that since the fund is tax payers money, LMDC was keen on all details of the plan. To a small to medium size community organization, to complete within less than 6 months all cost estimation of consultants and production, and to list in deta il expenditure of every cent, is a time consuming and difficult job.

He said, "if LMDC had begun this process of the Cultural Enhancement Grants 3 years ago, all the organizations could now be receiving the funds."

Charlie Lai, Executive Director of Museum of Chinese in American that received $200,000 felt that LMDC plays a unique role. Its operation has restrictions.
To forcibly impose existing standards on it is not practical. He said that the most important thing right now is to ensure that the funds will be released to all 63 organizations. This would prevent some people who would misuse the awards for other purposes because of lack of operating funds. For example, the World Trade Center Memorial, tunnel construction, and even 9/11 medical funds.
He said, "It would be best if the government would give out official contracts, clearly stating the funds must be given to the original 63 organizations.
This would enable disbursement of the Phase II funds becoming a reality."

AAAC fights to Keep 26 Bowery
June 1st, 2005

AAAC's legal action to prevent eviction from 26 Bowery is over. This struggle began in October 2004, immediately after our 30th Anniversary celebration. The prospect of eviction from our home of 29 years caused great havoc and anxiety, as it does for anyone faced with this problem. For AAAC it caused special problems given the extensive resources collected over many years. And for the programs we have built, without an adequate facility, would have difficulty continuing.

AAAC has been rent stabilized since 1984, but real estate values have been rising rapidly. We found that artists have been constantly affected by this, dependent as they are on personal studio space. NY has allowed the sacred cow of real estate to have its way with little regard for artists .

Artists remain for the most part powerless despite the value they bring to the city and its neighborhoods. This is now a global problem with many large cities adapting sites of former industries for artists zones. Creative solutions are called for with savvy leadership, and the collaboration of government and developers. These are far too few and the likelihood of government caring for its artists population, realistically is nil.

AAAC on the 3rd floor of 26 Bowery for 28 years, is above McDonalds which has been here for about 3 years. You may have seen this facade in the film, 'SuperSize Me!'

AAAC's plight is very similar to that of artists and other community cultural institutions, the crunch of property and economic forces that engulfs us all, and the equation that the legal and political structure has sanctified. Overlooked in this equation is the anguish, the disruption, and general inhumanity to others that is taken for granted, disregarded or considered unavoidable. More needs to be done to wake artists and the arts community to their collective condition, so that together we can generate the will and capacity to change this.

In our particular case, before the costs for continuing the legal process would have skyrocketed, AAAC settled out of court. We expect to sign a lease soon where we are no longer stabilized by IMD status of the Loft Law. Rent will go up over the next 4 years to commercial levels till we will pay 4 times more than we pay currently. In Sept 2005 our rent will nearly double. What we won is time to increase annual income and grants and/or time to plan to move with more deliberation to, perhaps, a modest facility where a different order of activities can be formulated and funding found to support them. Much of what began during this crisis will continue, for example, finding a secure home for our extensive collected resources.

We want to thank the many friends and artists who came forth to support us during this crisis. We thank all those who gave of their time to advise us and are continuing to help us navigate through this continuing evolving situation. We thank those who wrote support letters on our behalf, many of these were passionate statements that we will be forever grateful for. And we want to thank you our reader, many of you who have donated to support AAAC and continue to support us with your concern and contributions. Thanks to you all. The vision of an Asian American Contemporary Art Museum continues!

To make a donation, online or by mail, please click this button:

November 30th, 2004

On November 4, thirty years ago, the Asian American Arts Centre was incorporated and became a legal entity. Two years later, we moved into our current space at 26 Bowery and opened its doors for cultural activism. In promoting Asian and Asian American culture through the arts in Lower Manhattan, we joined artists and community advocacy together in a mission and a purpose that continues to resonate.

When AAAC began there was no such thing as Asian American art. Today this art has begun to find acceptance in many quarters. The diversity of the United States, however, and the character of its culture remains a deeply contested issue, as the elections have shown.

In Chinatown the effects of 9/11 have not been overcome. Many businesses are still hurting, We do look forward to the possibility of the creation of a major new cultural center in Chinatown. With the support and the encouragement of the mayor and the governor this may one day become a reality. If and when it does, we want to have a home there to establish a Museum for Contemporary Asian & Asian American Art.

Our home, however, of 28 years is now in jeopardy. Our landlord has served us with eviction papers and we have retained legal council to fight this. We are still seeking a probono lawyer, but that will take months and may result in someone too inexperienced in the area of law we need. Our lawyer is knowledgeable about the Loft Laws of New York City, that have enabled us to do our work with an affordable rent.

This 2500 sq. ft loft space has been: a dance studio for classes, an art school, a reception/waiting room, a gallery, a rehearsal and performance studio, storage space and office area, computer room, archival space, a library and research area, as well as a living area. It has been so much a part of our history it would be terrible to lose it now.

This problem has been quiescent for 13 years until now. Further background can be found in the New Yorker Magazine Back Issues dept, ask for the June 17, 1991 issue pages 75-77 of the article on Chinatown by Gwen Kinkead, or see her book entitled, "Chinatown: Portrait of a Closed Society" published in 1993 pages 99-104. E-mail copies of a few of these pages can be requested from AAAC. If you have questions please e-mailed us, so replies can be facilitated. Your letters on the value of AAAC's work, would also be very helpful. Such letters will be submitted to the court towards affecting the decision of the judge.

The Arts Centre's purpose and work has really just begun. Diversity in the United States is only inevitable if we make it so. We share with you this journey of paying attention to art. Now we must ask help to defend the Arts Centre in this legal battle and protect the many years of work accumulated. Only individual donations can be used for this purpose; program grants can only be spent on programs. Please contribute generously to offset our legal fees.