Great Art, Big Ideas International Festival of Arts & Ideas

Keynote by Thi Bui, author and artist of the graphic memoir "The Best We Could Do".
Introduction by President Dr. Elsa Nunez, Eastern Connecticut State University
Moderated by Dr. Jason O. Chang, Associate Professor of History and Asian American Studies, Director of the Asian and Asian American Studies Institute, University of Connecticut

Welcome to our Keynote address by Thi Bui, author of the award winning graphic memoir, The Best We Could Do, sponsored, in part, by the award from the NEA Big Read.

The NEA Big Read —a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Arts Midwest—broadens our understanding of our world, our neighbors, and ourselves through the power of a shared reading experience. Showcasing a diverse range of themes, voices, and perspectives, the NEA Big Read aims to inspire meaningful conversations, artistic responses, and new discoveries and connections in each community.

Thanks to the generous co-sponsorship of the following organizations:

Asian American Cultural Center, UConn.
Asian and Asian American Studies Institute, UConn.
Bloomfield Public Library, Bloomfield, CT
New Haven Public Library
The David T. Langrock Foundation
The New Alliance Foundation
CT Humanities Council.
The National Endowment for the Arts and Arts Midwest.
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How we tell the stories about ourselves, traumatic or otherwise, can be used to categorize us in ways that are not always equitable. Are marginalized groups expected to share traumatic experiences when dealing with institutions of power? Join sociologist, Aya Waller-Bey, community engagement storyteller Mike Keo, and Andrus Awardee Betty Bajek to explore what’s contributing to this issue, why it hurts us all, and how we can best address it.
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A world without housing insecurity. A realistic goal? Only if we better understand the inter-related array of steps that can lead to its elimination. Deepen your understanding and broaden your perspectives of this critical issue with the help of panelists Kellyann Day, CEO of New Reach, social worker Antwan Nedd, New Haven Housing Authority Director Karen DuBois-Walton, community organizer Billy Bromage, and New Reach's vice chair board member Aisha Bello.
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Artificial intelligence has been both idolized and demonized. Some have welcomed it into their businesses. Others fear it will destroy our lives. This lively presentation will help you take a fresh, informed, balanced look at how AI is impacting our lives now...and what we can do to ensure it will continue to be a force for good in the future. Speakers include Dr. Anat Lior, Bonnie Kaplan, and Michael Lynch. Moderated by CT Public’s Lucy Nalpathanchil.
This event was recorded live on June 17, 2023.
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Join us for a Behind the Actor's Studio-style interview with powerhouse practitioners in social change and cultural equity! Grantmakers in the Arts President Eddie Torres will be joined by Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre Founder and Artistic Director Rosalba Rolón in a session that will engage personal narrative to illuminate pathways of activism in the performing arts. Listen in as Eddie and Rosalba grapple with the tension between the individual and the societal as related to decisions on cultural values and funding. Come curious. Leave inspired.
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Amelia Winger-Bearskin showcases her art and science storytelling work and demonstrates how new technologies can help preserve and engage with ancestral knowledge. Discover how innovative formats can engage future generations. Additionally, Amelia discusses how her collaborations with scientists have enriched her artistic practice.
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