Join the National Asian American Theater Movement!
The Consortium of Asian American Theaters & Artists (CAATA) is an organization that supports the vibrant, growing and changing field of Asian American theater. We organize the biennial National Asian American Theater Conference and Festival (ConFest). Preparations are now underway for the sixth convening, this year in Chicago from August 13-18.
Since the first national gathering in 2006, CAATA has rallied Asian American theater artists and professionals to dive headfirst into the deep, challenging conversations that surround what it means to be engaged in American theater as a person of color.
This year's theme, Revolutionary Acts, will engage attendees and the Chicago community in critical theatre and dialogue regarding the intersection of art, leadership, and community in the face of social injustice, inequity, and active resistance in American culture. What are we, as theater practitioners, doing about it? How will we be responsive together?
Over the course of six days in Chicago, the 2018 National Asian American Theater Conference and Festival will bring theater productions, panel discussions, plenary sessions, new play readings, workshops, special events, and most importantly, a space for Asian American artists and professionals from across the country to connect and build the relationships that help keep the community vibrant and alive. It will be an opportunity to see some of the amazing work being presented by theater artists across the country.
What Your Help Can Do
As a member of this community we ask you to support CAATA and the upcoming ConFest. Your contribution goes directly toward advancing Asian and Pacific Islander artistic work in the American theater landscape and raising the visibility of the Asian Pacific community, the fastest growing population in the United States.
The 2018 National Asian American Theater Conference and Festival is expected to cost $240,000 for six days of programming. This includes:
- Staging five Festival productions, plus numerous showcases and readings
- Hiring technicians, operators and front of house staff
- Honorariums for artists, speakers and panelists
- Travel stipends for ConFest participants
- Printing Conference and Festival materials
- Hosting receptions and other opportunities for attendees to convene
- ConFest marketing and outreach
Most of the cost will be covered by government and foundation grants. But in order for this historic, national gathering to be successful, we need the support of all members of the Asian American community: artists, administrators, audiences and beyond.
About Us
The Consortium of Asian American Theaters & Artists (CAATA) envisions a strong and sustainable Asian American theater community that is an integral presence in national culture: evocative of our past, declarative of our present, and innovative towards our future. Our mission is to advance the field of Asian American theater through a national network of organizations and artists. We collaborate to inspire learning and sharing of knowledge and resources to promote a healthy, sustainable artistic ecology.
