NEW YORK.- For the third year running, the Asian Contemporary ArtWeek will celebrate the richness and diversity of Asian contemporary art through a weeklong series of public programs in New York City, on November 9 through 14, 2004. Asian Contemporary ArtWeek is designed to bring the wider public into direct contact with artists, scholars and a variety of exhibitions at participating galleries and museums around the city. A complete schedule of events is attached, and is available at www.acaw.net.

Asian Contemporary ArtWeek is the primary public initiative of the Asian Contemporary Art Consortium, composed of a broad alliance of curators, museum directors, gallery owners, educators and collectors. Formed in 2001, ACAC helps to promote awareness and appreciation of Asian contemporary art in the United States. On Friday, November 12 at 6:30 p.m., Asia Society will host a panel discussion entitled “Dialogues in Asian Contemporary Art: Take 3.” This panel will explore emerging trends and new directions in the Asian contemporary art scene. Speakers will include Melissa Chiu, Asia Society Museum, Vasif Kortun, of the Platform Garanti Contemporary Art Center and curator of the 9th International Istanbul Biennial, and artists Shirin Neshat and Shahzia Sikander.

“ We are pleased to be a part of Asian Contemporary ArtWeek for the third year running. Even in the three years since we started this initiative, we have continued to notice a marked increase in enthusiasm for contemporary Asian art,” said Melissa Chiu, Director and Curator of Contemporary Asian Art at the Asia Society Museum. Other highlights of Asian Contemporary ArtWeek include a panel discussion, “The A-Bomb and the Arts” at Japan Society on November 9 at 6:30 p.m. and a panel discussion titled, “Mumbai: SubUrban Fables/Raghubir Singh Retrospective” at Sepia International/The Alkazi Collection on November 10 at 7p.m. Bose Pacia Gallery will be hosting a panel discussion, titled “Raqs Media Collective” on November 11 at 7 p.m. and Columbia University’s Teachers College will be hosting a Weekend Symposium, titled “Conversations Across Cultures: Tradition and Innovation in Contemporary Chinese Art and Art Education” on November 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A closing party for ACAW will be held on November 14th from 5p.m. to 8 p.m. at Columbia University’s Macy Gallery.

The Asian Contemporary Art Consortium (ACAW) was formed in response to the growing awareness of Asian contemporary art in the United States and the profound influence of Asian cultures on America. Its members include Ethan Cohen, Ethan Cohen Fine Arts; Vishakha N. Desai and Melissa Chiu, Asia Society and Museum; Esa Epstein, Sepia International, The Alkazi Collection; Michael Goedhuis, Goedhuis Contemporary; Stephen McGuinness, Plum Blossoms; Alexandra Munroe, Japan Society; Steve Pacia and Shumita Bose, Bose Pacia Modern; Jung Lee Sanders, Art Projects International; David Solo, Collector; and Jack & Susy Wadsworth, Collectors.