2013 DC Asian American & Pacific Islander Literary Arts & Performance Poetry Festival (LAPP Fest)

The 2013 DC Asian American & Pacific Islander Literary Arts & Performance Poetry Festival (LAPP Fest) presented an evening of spoken word poetry showcasing the breadth and texture of AAPI narratives. LAPP Fest took place in Washington, D.C. from August 28-31, 2013 at numerous venues throughout the District. 

For more information you can visit http://lappfest.org.

You can see an hour of the headline performance at: http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/videos/?id=M5551

The organizers explained:

"The 2013 LAPP Fest is an outgrowth of the Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) Spoken Word & Poetry Summit, a biennial gathering of artists from the Asian and Pacific Islander diaspora representing various disciplines. Every two years, artists from across North America (and the globe) convene in one city for four to five days. In the past, Summit attendees have shared poems and stories, engaged in dialogue, and attended workshops, with topics ranging from improving writing and performance skills to using art as activism. Attendees were also given the unique opportunity to explore the nuanced APIA experiences of the host city, and engaged with residents of the city during field trips and other activities. The Summit concluded with a public ceremony with performances by renowned APIA artists. 

Since its inception in 2001, numerous dedicated volunteers from around the country have helped activate the following six cities: Seattle (2001); Chicago (2003); Boston (2005); New York City (2007); the Bay Area (2009) and the Twin Cities (2011). These activities, as well as the “passing of the torch” that occurs when a different city of organizers is selected by a popular vote and commits to the two-year process of hosting a Summit, are all directed towards uplifting the APIA arts and activism communities of that particular city. 

It is our hope that LAPP Fest will continue the tradition of past Summits by celebrating and exposing Washington, DC’s richly diverse communities and cultures. We will shed light on the progress of our work as AAPI artivists. Most importantly, we will highlight the growth, beauty and excellence that exists across the AAPI Poet-Writer-Spoken Word Performer Diaspora."