About Us – ACA

Our Mission

To encourage the preservation of the ancient performing arts traditions of Asia and in particular the unique art forms of the Indian subcontinent, as well as expose audiences to contemporary Asian artists. We seek to increase awareness of these traditions among Asian and non-Asian audiences in an effort to advance and preserve their continued existence in the modern world. We seek to educate students in order to assist in integrating these traditions into the Western mainstream of World Performing Arts.

Our History

The Asian Cultural Association was formed in January 1991 by a group of like-minded individuals who wanted to preserve and encourage support for the classical music and art forms of South Asia. Since that time, the organization has progressively expanded its outreach to include larger segments of the community, reaching students, educators, professional and amateur artists in a wide variety of disciplines including music, dance and the visual arts, as well as enthusiasts and supporters of the arts.

In the past 20+ years, the ACA has grown to include several contracted staff members, received major grants from Orange County, the State of Florida, and the National Endowment for the Arts, and has brought international superstars to Central Florida. As the only organization in the Southeast dedicated to bringing an annual season of Asian art forms to Central Florida, the ACA presents a balanced series of programs reflective of the diverse classical and folk performing and visual arts traditions of the Indian subcontinent as well its contemporary artists.

ACA produces an annual season of programming that includes annual events such as the South Asian Film Festival and exhibits of Asian visual arts, traditional concerts and dance performances. ACA also produces an award winning free education program that has reached more than 45,000 K-12 students in the last 15 years on the music, dance and culture of India.

Past ACA performers have included such eminent artists as Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri winner Alla Rakha, Shivkumar Sharma, Grammy winners Zakir Hussain and Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, North Indian flutist Pandit Haripasad Chaurasia and tabla player Subhankar Banerjee. Virtuoso dancers from the Bharat Natyam and Kuchipudi traditions of South India and the noted North Indian vocalist Jagjit Singh.