Stewardship of Asian Art Artifacts

The Heritage Museum of Asian Art continues to receive collections from Midwest collectors, expanding public access to important works of Asian art and material culture.

​In 2026, the museum received approximately 60 objects from the Maclean Collection, with a particular emphasis on Vietnamese artifacts. This acquisition broadens access to underrepresented cultural materials and strengthens HMAA’s ability to present a more inclusive understanding of Asian artistic traditions.

Youth Education & Workforce Development Program

This program provides museum-based, career-oriented training that bridges this divide. Through hands-on, mentorship-driven experiences, participants gain direct insight into cultural institutions while developing practical skills in curatorial practice, collections management, education, communications, and nonprofit administration.

Preserving Community Asian American Artist Legacy

Grounded in the understanding that cultural legacy is not only embedded in artworks but also in lived experiences, this
initiative brings together oral history, archival development, collections care, public engagement, and youth education as
interconnected strategies for long-term cultural preservation.

Art Education

The Heritage Museum of Asian Art provides hundreds of wide range educational programs designed to increase public understanding and appreciation of Asian art, history, and culture. Through lectures, artist talks, workshops, demonstrations, guided tours, and hands-on learning experiences, participants engage directly with both traditional and contemporary artistic practices from across Asia.

Stitching Stories Initiative

Stitching Stories is a community-based initiative of the Heritage Museum of Asian Art that uses textile arts, storytelling, and cultural exchange to connect people across diverse backgrounds. Bringing together artists, quilters, and community members from East, Southeast, South, and West Asian communities, African American communities, and other cultural groups throughout Chicago, the project explores themes of heritage, identity, migration, memory, and belonging.