OUR HISTORY
1997
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HISTORICAL TIMEPOINT
1989
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HISTORICAL TIMEPOINT
1987
FOUNDING OF ASIAN IMPROV ARTS
Influenced by the Black Arts and Asian American Consciuousness Movements, Francis Wong and Jon Jang founded Asian Improv Records, an upstart record label VERBING self-producing Asian American and other BIPOC musicians.
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1990
FIRST MAJOR PROJECT
Asian Improv aRts has its first major project with SenseUS and begins to receive international recognition through concerts and other events.
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![[July 9, 2023] Japan Day - Image provided by Melody Takata](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2784d5_1882311baa744bc2a666a25a56a1a8a2~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_928,y_0,w_3712,h_3712/fill/w_374,h_374,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/%5BJuly%209%2C%202023%5D%20Japan%20Day%20-%20Image%20provided%20by%20Melody%20Takata.jpg)
1995
FIRST FESTIVALS
Asian Improv aRts participates in its first Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival, which led to the start of a multi-disciplinary festival created by AIR called APA Arts & Heritage Festival.
![[July 9, 2023] Japan Day - Image provided by Melody Takata](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2784d5_1882311baa744bc2a666a25a56a1a8a2~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_928,y_0,w_3712,h_3712/fill/w_94,h_94,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/%5BJuly%209%2C%202023%5D%20Japan%20Day%20-%20Image%20provided%20by%20Melody%20Takata.jpg)
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2000
SORROW TURNS TO JOY
Asian Improv aRts embarks on a major project that collaborates with international Chinese singers and African American artists
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1999
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HISTORICAL TIMEPOINT
2005
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HISTORICAL TIMEPOINT
![[May 19, 2023] Erika Oba, Chris Bastian, Jeremy Steinkoler Trio - Photo by David DeHart.JP](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2784d5_dca79516126f488b83fbc6fc33de332a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_375,h_375,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/%5BMay%2019%2C%202023%5D%20Erika%20Oba%2C%20Chris%20Bastian%2C%20Jeremy%20Steinkoler%20Trio%20-%20Photo%20by%20David%20DeHart_JP.jpg)
2000
THE ALLIANCE OF EMERGING CREATIVE ARTISTS
Fiscally sponsored by Asian Improv aRts, this artists’ cooperative was founded by Leon Lee and Jeff Chan to raise the profile of Asian American and ethnically diverse creative musicians, produce professional performance opportunities, and present the cross-cultural, multi-ethnic reality of the Bay Area’s new music scene.
![[May 19, 2023] Erika Oba, Chris Bastian, Jeremy Steinkoler Trio - Photo by David DeHart.JP](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2784d5_dca79516126f488b83fbc6fc33de332a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_94,h_94,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/%5BMay%2019%2C%202023%5D%20Erika%20Oba%2C%20Chris%20Bastian%2C%20Jeremy%20Steinkoler%20Trio%20-%20Photo%20by%20David%20DeHart_JP.jpg)
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2004
IEL BECOMES AIR MIDWEST
Innocent Eyes and Lenses changes its name to Asian Improv aRts Midwest after establishing partnership with San Francisco-based Asian Improv aRts, reflecting the community they serve.
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2017
WITHIN THESE WALLS
The first iteration of the award-winning site-specific immersive dance performance by Lenora Lee Dance is realized, bringing to life the lived experiences of the nearly 175.000 Chinese immigrants detained at the Angel Island Immigration station between 1910 and 1940.
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2007
FOUNDING OF LENORA LEE DANCE
Lenora Lee Dance becomes fiscally sponsored by AIR and begins to make its impact locally and nationally through community & justice-informed choreographic works.
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2020
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HISTORICAL TIMEPOINT
2022
AIR CELEBRATES 35 YEARS
Asian Improv aRts reaches a milestone of 35 years.
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2023
AIR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM LAUNCHES
Asian Improv aRts onboard 7 artists in its first cohort of fellows.
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2024
AIR MIDWEST CELEBRATES 20 YEARS
AIR MIDWEST celebrates 20 years
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