Hanlin Chinese Culture Association and Chinese American Community Center Share Cultural Traditions
Wilmington, DE — The Delaware Art Museum once again partners with the Hanlin Chinese Culture Association and Chinese American Community Center for Chinese New Year – this year, celebrating the Year of the Ox. Beginning Saturday, February 20 and available through February 28, 2021, the public can celebrate the new beginnings of a lunar new year with free videos and art activities.
This virtual program will kick off with footage from lion and folk dance performances, Chinese yo-yo demonstrations, and art activities. A new addition to the celebration for 2021 is dumpling making, which includes an ingredient list and instructions shared in advance and an online cooking demonstration.
Families are encouraged to register online for free art activity supplies, which may be picked up at the Front Desk from February 13 through 21 during regular admission hours. The first 30 families that register will receive a lantern kit (limit one lantern per family). One registrant will be selected at random to receive a print to commemorate the Year of the Ox.
A link to the YouTube playlist of performances and demonstrations will be shared at delart.org on February 20. Families can view the recorded program at their convenience through February 28. This is the fifteenth year the Museum has partnered with community organizations to share Chinese traditions and art.
Taini Hsu, Founder and President of Hanlin Chinese Cultural Association, said, “The connection with the Museum started when I was a docent in 1997. We wanted to bring the Chinese and Asian Americans living in the community to the Museum to explore the art, and at the same time, enable the Museum’s American audience to appreciate our Chinese culture.”
Hsu added, “The lion and folk dances are performed by the young kids in programs at the Chinese American Community Center, but other performances have included visiting artists. I’m originally from Taiwan, and the reason we are able to bring artists in most years is thanks to the Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. They sponsor the event and every year they give away the lantern kits.”
The mission of the Hanlin Chinese Culture Association is to promote Chinese art and culture to the public. The Chinese American Community Center promotes the exchange and integration of Chinese and American cultures by coordinating activities and events throughout the year and by providing a location for various community organizations and clubs to meet.
Partnering with community organizations on Chinese New Year speaks to the Museum’s mission “to connect people to art, offering an inclusive and essential community resource that through its collections, exhibitions, and programs, generates creative energy that sustains, enriches, empowers, and inspires.”
This program is in partnership with Hanlin Chinese Culture Association. Lanterns provided by Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S.
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~ Delaware Art Museum
For over 100 years, the Museum has served as a primary arts and cultural institution in Delaware. It is alive with experiences, discoveries, and activities to connect people with art and with each other. Originally created in 1912 to honor the renowned illustrator and Wilmington-native, Howard Pyle, the Museum’s collection has grown to over 12,000 works of art in our building and sculpture garden. Also recognized for British Pre-Raphaelite art, the Museum is home to the most comprehensive Pre-Raphaelite collection on display outside of the United Kingdom, and a growing collection of significant contemporary art.
Under the leadership of our Board of Trustees, the Delaware Art Museum is implementing a comprehensive approach to community and civic engagement. This exciting new strategic direction requires that we increase our value and relevance to all audiences. Visit delart.org to for the latest exhibitions, programs, and performances or connect with us via social media.
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