Alabama Asian Cultures Foundation

The Alabama Asian Cultures Foundation (AACF) was established to nurture and support artistic and cultural organizations within the Asian communities in the metro Birmingham area, and in the state of Alabama. These efforts will enable Americans of all cultures to enjoy and celebrate Asian arts and cultures. Encouraging interactions among different cultures through education and artistic and cultural programming will promote diversity, and international understanding and friendship. The mission will ultimately be fulfilled through an Asian Cultural Education Center, a classical Chinese Garden, and an International Friendship and Peace Plaza.

AACF (formerly known as the Birmingham Chinese Garden & Asian Cultural Center Foundation) was organized and incorporated on May 25, 2005, by a group of visionary Asian and non-Asian residents of metro-Birmingham. The foundation received designation as a 501(c)(3) public charity by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service on March 22, 2006. For several reasons, including making our statewide focus more clear, the Directors elected to change the name to the Alabama Asian Cultures Foundation in 2009. In an effort to promote its goals and raise funds, the Foundation sponsors a spring “Birmingham Asian Cultures & Food Festival” annually with the public invited. Entertainment, lectures/workshops and exhibitions, a bazaar, an Asian fashion show and Asian cuisine are featured to provide education in a “fun” environment that allows diverse individuals to learn about and meet each other. Volunteers work alongside others from many cultures promoting interaction and cultural understanding.

The Foundation has also sponsored Asian arts and cultural programs and exhibitions for metro-Birmingham and Alabama. Events sponsored have set a high benchmark for the future, and established a quality reputation for Foundation programs, even before our proposed Asian Cultural Education Center is open.  As a statewide organization, it is our hope that as soon as our Center is open and programs running, we may be able to tours of sponsored groups and events we bring to Alabama to locations in all parts of the state: Huntsville, Florence, Montgomery, Troy/Dothan, and Mobile.

At present we are in negotiations for a 40 acre site with an existing 60,000 square foot venue:  1200 seat exhibition hall, dining rooms, catering kitchen, offices for community committees, a potential art gallery, and 25 rooms for meetings, classrooms, and other uses.  

The Foundation has just received an anonymous challenge matching grant for $150,000, and we are asking your support in matching it dollar-for-dollar.  Please help us match the whole amount!

Find more information and updates on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/asiancultures, and become a "friend".

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