Polycultural Institute generates art and ideas that promote polyculturalism. We connect people, cultures, and communities.

Polyculturalism is the theory that cultures continuously evolve and transform through dynamic interchange. It assumes that cultures are fluid and flexible, not static and fixed, and that as cultures interact with each other, they redefine themselves.

Polyculturalism promotes the understanding that cultural communities — and the multifaceted individuals that comprise them — share challenges and needs that produce alliances and spur coalitional politics.

Polyculturalism is largely synonymous with both interculturalism and cultural interchange. It is more intentionally political in that it aims to shape discourse and inspire action.

To promote polyculturalism, expand civic and social connectivity, and challenge tribalism and extreme polarization. We know instinctively that diversity is our strength only if it brings us together.

A traditional think tank is a community of academics and analysts who conduct research and advocate for solutions via public policy recommendations.

A think-and-create tank is a community of artists, scholars, and activists who conduct research and advocate for solutions through artmaking and storytelling.

Our Silk Road journey was born of multicultural politics, then quickly migrated to polycultural aesthetics — “aesthetics” and “politics” being largely synonymous for us. If our initial impulses were multicultural (creating space for Asian and Middle Eastern American stories), they evolved into decidedly polycultural instincts (exploring connections and possibilities within and between cultures). We traded cultural silos for cultural bridges. “By us, about us, for us” became “by us, about us, for all.”

Polycultural Institute is the think-and-create tank of Silk Road Rising. Its mission is to generate art and ideas that promote polyculturalism.

Polyculturalism is the theory that cultures continuously evolve and transform through dynamic interchange. It assumes that cultures are fluid and flexible, not static and fixed, and that as cultures interact with each other, they redefine themselves.

Polyculturalism promotes the understanding that cultural communities — and the multifaceted individuals that comprise them — share challenges and needs that inevitably produce alliances and spur coalitional politics.

The concept of polyculturalism is largely synonymous with both interculturalism and cultural interchange. It is, however, more intentionally political in that it aims to shape discourse and drive change.

We promote polyculturalism to expand civic and social connectivity. As America’s multiracial democracy continues to be undermined by extreme polarization, we know instinctively that diversity is our strength when it brings us together.