Question:

WHY does Silk Road Rising exist?

Answer:

Because we need to EXPAND THE AMERICAN STORY.

Silk Road Rising is a Chicago-based, community-centered, artmaking and arts service organization rooted in Pan-Asian*, North African, and Muslim experiences. Through storytelling, digital media, and arts education, we cultivate new narratives, challenge disinformation, and promote a culture of continuous learning.

*We define Pan-Asian as inclusive of all cultures that span the Asian continent, including their diaspora communities.

Silk Road Cultural Center is a Chicago-based interdisciplinary arts organization rooted in the modern communities of the historic Silk Roads, including our diaspora communities. We embrace the arts as a catalyst for connecting people, places, histories, and futures.

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Cultivating New Narratives

Creating

We celebrate the artistic legacies of our diverse communities, and amplify stories that are by us, about us, and for all.

Challenging Divisions

Advocating

We craft stories to challenge the polarization that tears at the fabric of American society.

Promoting a Culture of Continuous Learning

Educating

We use stories to share ideas, imagine new possibilities, and explore what it means to be American in the 21st century.

Spotlight

Reserve Your Tickets Today!

You're invited to a staged reading of Grape Leaves, a new play-in-progress written by Alexander Attea and directed by Christina Casano, on March 8th and 10th at 7:30 PM.

In Partnership with Avalanche Theatre

About Grape Leaves

Marcus Mansour, a third-generation Lebanese American, is helping his family run the annual Lebanese Festival at his Maronite Catholic church in a rapidly changing Buffalo, NY. The problem is, he's feeling disconnected from his family and community. His sister is embroiled in a toxic relationship. His dad announced that he's remarrying. And worst of all, his grandmother won't share the family's treasured recipes. When the new parish priest asks him to run the festival, Marcus seizes the opportunity to gain a deeper connection to his family and roots. Then a surprise blizzard hits.

Location: The Little Studio, Fine Arts Building,

410 S Michigan Ave,

Suite 732, Chicago, IL

Tickets are Pay-What-You-Can

March 8th at 7:30 PM March 10th at 7:30 PM

Become a part of the story.

Donate today

Silk Road Rising is a community-centered art-making and arts service organization rooted in Pan-Asian, North African, and Muslim experiences. Through storytelling, digital media, and arts education, we challenge disinformation, cultivate new narratives, and promote a culture of continuous learning.

Mission

News

Sacred Stages: A Church, A Theatre, and A Story

News

Not Quite White: Arabs, Slavs, and the Contours of Contested Whiteness

News

Aphasia Talks

SUPPORT

Become a part of the story.

Your support of Silk Road Rising contributes to a richer panoply of Pan-Asian, North African, and Muslim stories, and helps to heal our world by generating greater empathy and understanding within and between our communities.