Immigration, Identity, and the Arts at East Side Freedom Library

February 5, 2023

12 PM – 1:30 PM CT

Hosted by ACF Director of Artist Support, Carolina Heredia, this event will feature Latin American and ACF composer awardees in conversation about documenting the shift in experiences through generations. This event will feature ACF McKnight Visiting Composers J.E. Hernández and Victor Márquez-Barrios.

This will be a hybrid event – you can attend in person at the East Side Freedom Library or join virtually on Zoom.

Please register here!

Through art and dialogue, in connection with Thi Bui’s graphic memoir, The Best We Could Do, we will engage in the lived experiences of different immigrant populations in Minnesota and amplify their voices, stories, and music.

American Composers Forum believes that music is a medium that can help us connect as humans, tell stories, and share experiences. East Side Freedom Library has long hosted study groups, partnerships, and community events that lift up the stories of its neighborhood in the name of justice. Together, we will host several cultural events and conversations examining the theme of “Immigration, Identity, and the Arts” to amplify the voices, stories, and music of immigrant artists and community members wrestling with this theme. Included in our events will be discussion of, and inspiration from, Thi Bui’s graphic memoir, The Best We Could Do. Supported by the NEA’s Big Read project, this book aligns greatly with our theme, and resonates with so many members of our community. We are planning parallel in-person and virtual options to accommodate health and accessibility considerations. All events are free and open to the public. 

NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.