Art & Society Hubs Network – Asia
Our Vision
The vision of the Art & Society Hubs Network – Asia is that arts and culture have strategic importance in developing Asia’s future. We want to see a thriving network of grassroots arts organisations and artists, sharing opportunities and strategies for how arts can make positive change in communities and societies. We want new generations of artists to have easy access to learning, exchange and community with their Asian neighbours.
About the Art & Society Hubs Network – Asia
We aim to nurture and promote artistic creativity, uphold artistic freedom, and amplify diverse grassroots voices.
Hub Partners, Hanoi, 2024
The network started in 2023, and currently has four members, ‘Hub Partners’. We aim to nurture and promote artistic creativity, uphold artistic freedom, and amplify diverse grassroots voices. The shared values and focus areas which bring us into collaboration are:
- A programmatic orientation towards art, culture and society
- A mission to create opportunities for other people in the arts
- We work with practitioners from varied artistic disciplines
- Building regional networks is a core part of what we do and is important to our organisations
Our main work as a network is currently to:
- Expand networks of art and society practitioners in Asia
- Promote opportunities for art and society practitioners in Asia
- Make it easier for practitioners from our target areas to access opportunities
- Pilot a Mobility Program to increase exchange and networking within the Mekong Region and Taiwan (keep scrolling for more details)
The network members meet online monthly to share information, explore opportunities, and launch collaborative projects. Additionally, the network members gather in person at least once a year. The upcoming meeting will be held in December 2024 in Taipei. If you are interested in connecting with the network during this event, please reach out to us. We would also love to hear from you if you have projects or programs that you would like the network to be aware of.
To learn more about the background behind the network, and the plans for growing the network over time, please visit the following link.
Hub Partners
Established in 2014, Heritage Art Space is an independent art organization situated in Hanoi, Vietnam, operating as a social enterprise. Our mission centers on active participation and facilitation of contemporary art advancement through residency programs, international exchange, exhibitions, public programs, and fostering multilateral collaborations and educational endeavors in Southeast Asia and beyond. We collaborate with artists, researchers, curators, educators, multidisciplinary cultural practitioners, individuals and organizations working in the field of culture & arts to design and implement short-term programs and long-term projects to promote the voice of art in social engagement and development. You can contact Heritage Space at: hello@heritageartspace.org.vn
The Association for Myanmar Contemporary Arts (AMCA) serves as a vibrant, artist-centric organization dedicated to propelling the advancement of contemporary arts and fostering a deeper understanding of Myanmar’s cultural heritage. Since its establishment, AMCA has been unwavering in its commitment to fostering collaboration and the development of strong partnerships within the artistic and cultural communities. Through a strategic alliance with the Art & Society Hubs Network-Asia, AMCA aspires to cultivate a more flourishing artistic landscape within the region through the exchange and sharing of valuable resources. This collaboration will enable AMCA to share artistic and cultural opportunities with a wider range of diverse artists who require support, in terms of artistic development. You can contact AMCA at : contact@amcamyanmar.com
Established in 1993, Trees Music & Art started as an independent folk and roots music label and extended their expertise to the curation of music and film festivals, multi-media productions, and documentary filmmaking. By joining the Art & Society Hubs Network-Asia, they seek opportunities to collaborate with artists and cultural practitioners/organizations who share the same values of discovering and introducing grassroots voices, initiating dialogues, and reflecting on society and contemporary issues through art and cultural actions. You can contact Trees music & art at : treesmusicart@gmail.com
Mekong Cultural Hub (MCH)’s mission is to empower diverse cultural practitioners to bring to life their visions for a sustainable and inclusive Asia. As the main coordinator of the Art & Society Hubs Network – Asia, MCH plays a vital role in facilitating, structuring, and operations of the network. MCH works closely with the other Hub Partners in planning and decision-making processes. You can read more about how and why MCH started the Art & Society Hubs Network – Asia HERE. You can contact MCH at: info@mekongculturalhub.org
Art & Society Mobility Program
From 2024, the Hub Partners are jointly piloting a new Mobility Program, focused on increasing opportunities for emerging art and society practitioners to develop their knowledge and networks through opportunities to travel and to attend events in Asia. The program is based on a set of common objectives, jointly developed by the Hub Partners, and the priority is to support mobility for practitioners within Mekong and Taiwan:
- Strengthen the Network: Foster a stronger network among the different communities and hubs within the Art & Society Network Asia.
- Mutual Learning: Facilitate knowledge sharing and mutual learning opportunities for artists and cultural practitioners in the region.
- Resource Sharing: Encourage the sharing of resources among the hubs, promoting collaboration and innovation.
- Career Advancement: Support the career advancement of individuals by providing mobility opportunities for professional growth.
Based on these objectives, during the pilot phase each Hub Partner will implement their own program of travel grants, talks, events and exchanges, using financial and administrative support from MCH. Each Hub Partner’s program is designed to support outward travel for people from their country (in Myanmar’s case this also includes Myanmar citizens based in Southeast Asia). If you are from either Myanmar, Taiwan or Vietnam, please use the links below to discover more about the opportunities being offered by your local Hub Partner. If you are an artist from elsewhere in Asia and will be visiting Hanoi or Taipei, please contact the relevant Hub Partner as they may be able to host you for a talk or a workshop.
PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS
This program is possible thanks to support from organisations including:
