A city-wide San Francisco art festival is being put together to bring attention to the fight against Anti-Asian hate.
"THE FUTURE IS" will give Asian American and Pacific Islander artists the opportunity to make their voices heard all over town.
Hoi Leung, who works at the San Francisco Chinese Culture Center and is curating the project, told KCBS Radio on Monday that festival artwork could be displayed in storefronts, or even as murals, projections and billboards on the side of buildings.
"Anything you can think of to be out there, we want to take up some space," Leung said.
Madeleine Lim, a filmmaker and artist, said this is an important way to fight Anti-Asian hate.
"The arts are a deep and intrinsic part of our cultural practice, and an inherent part of how we, as Asian and Pacific Islanders, celebrate who we are," Lim said.
A $1,000,000 state grant is paying for the project, the Chinese Culture Center and state Sen. Scott Wiener announced on Monday.
Wiener, who represents San Francisco, said now is the right time for the project and it is merely part of an ongoing fight for justice.
"I think we have to be honest," he said. "As much attention as anti-AAPI hate has received this year, which is long overdue, this is nothing new."
The state money also will be used for the "AAPI Futures Fund," a grant program for artists.
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