Immigration Arts Summit Leads to New Immigrant Arts Coalition

Participants of the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene event agreed to create a network of artists and organizations producing ethnic art for New York audiences.

Kenji Fujishima

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July 19, 2017

National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene CEO Christopher Massimine, seen on the right next to John Leguizamo at the Immigration Arts Summit, yesterday announced the formation of the Immigrant Arts Coalition. — National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene C.E.O. Christopher Massimine (right), with John Leguizamo at the Immigration Arts Summit, has announced the formation of the Immigrant Arts Coalition.
(photo provided by National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene)

The two-day Immigration Arts Summit, hosted by the National Yiddish Theatre — Folksbiene at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, culminated yesterday in an agreement among all participants to formally organize as an Immigrant Arts Coalition. The public announcement was made yesterday C.E.O. Christopher Massimine.

According to a statement issued today, the Coalition "has formed today to recognize the important and ongoing contributions of artists and arts organizations identifying with cultures from all sources and abroad. Member artists and organizations that serve diaspora communities and the wider public in New York will share advocacy, audience development and other resources, and collaborate with ongoing and continuous shared programming, including the second annual Immigration Arts Summit next year, bigger, and better, and taking over the National stage."

The founding organizations include the performing-arts producers Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, Repertorio Español, Irish Repertory Theatre, the Kairos Italy Theater, the Irish Arts Center, and the Turkish American Repertory Theater & Entertainment, as well as such museums and cultural organizations as the Romanian Cultural Institute, Israel's Office of Cultural Affairs in the U.S., and the Cumbe: Center for African and Diaspora Dance.