Welcome to Accès Asie!

The Festival formed in response to a need for a stronger Asian presence in the Quebec cultural climate. The month of May was declared in the Senate as the "Asian Heritage Month" by the Honorable Senator Vivienne Poy. Officially recognized by the ex-minister Sheila Copps in the year 2003, Asian Heritage Month was celebrated by over ten cities across Canada in 2005 and the month of May as "Asian Heritage Month" was officially declared by the City of Montreal in May 2004.

Accès Asie is the longest running Asian Heritage Festival in Canada.

Mandate

To encourage greater cultural tolerance and understanding
To dismantle stereotypes and "cultural barriers"
To encourage dialogue creating interdisciplinary, intergenerational and intercultural solidarity's, which further the level of appreciation and understanding of Asian arts, culture and history

Vision

To provide an environment conducive to the promotion of the history, culture and art of Canadians of Asian origin
To facilitate the expression of the diversity and exchange of the cultural richness thereof to the mainstream of Canadian society.

Artistic Objectives

To present works by artists of Asian origin and/or works that are based on Asia.
To feature artists' works of all disciplines from the sacred, profane, ancient, modern and classical to the popular.