Voices Amplified A Series on Arts and Social Justice

Voices AMPLIFIED!

Voices AMPLIFIED! is a thematic series of music, dance, spoken word and visual arts  that celebrates artists from diverse cultures and connects the Omaha community with opportunities for discussion, reflection and new experiences. All events are free and open to all.


23/24 Season: Elevating Asian American Voices

The 23/24 Season will continue amplifying voices from past seasons with a special focus on Asian American voices. Partnering with local and national touring artists, we'll offer free community events every month through June 2024.

 

September 16, 2023

Community Spotlight: One Community Cultural Festival
1:00 to 9:00 PM│ Gene Leahy Mall (1001 Douglas St.)
The One Community Cultural Festival, organized by the Nebraska Chinese Association, celebrates the diversity of the cultures, traditions and people in Omaha through dance, song, food and commerce at the annual community festival. O-pa will support this year’s event as part of the Voices AMPLIFIED! season. Learn more about the day’s events here.

October 11, 2023

Hip Hop Lab Culture Talk: “Scratch That” Featuring Hi-Tek, Lite Pole and Marcey Yates, moderated by Kethro
7:30 PM│ Scott Recital Hall in the Holland Center
Hip Hop is more than an art form, it’s a culture with a rich 50-year legacy! Join us for our next Hip Hop Lab culture talk exploring music production, sampling and more with Cincinnati Rapper & Producer Hi-Tek, and Omaha's Lite Pole and Artist, Producer and Founder of Culxr House Marcey Yates, moderated by Audio Engineer & DJ, Kethro

This is a free ticketed event. Register here.

November 11, 2023

The Art of Remembering: An Inside Look at Las Cafeteras' “Hasta La Muerte”
11:00 AM│ Hispanic Art Center of Omaha (3504 Center St.)
Modern roots band Las Cafeteras returns to Omaha with “Hasta La Muerte,” a multi-dimensional Day of the Dead celebration. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the performance during a conversation with the band presented in partnership with the Hispanic Arts Center of Omaha.     

December 15, 2023

Feeding the Family: Honoring the Past while Feeding the Future featuring Alan Wang
5:30 PM│ Virtual
Join us for another tasty cook-along with No More Empty Pots! They are back with another virtual culinary experience, this time elevating Asian cuisine and culture.                                 

January 17 & 18, 2024

Year of The Dragon: A Lunar New Year Celebration with Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company
7:00 PM│ Nebraska Chinese Center (8206 Blondo St.)
When the acclaimed Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company visits Omaha to celebrate the Lunar New Year, they will also teach two dance workshops for the local community in partnership with the Nebraska Chinese Association.                                                 

February 10, 2024

Asian American Voices in Theatre
5:30 PM│BLUEBARN Theatre (1106 S 10th St.)
This event featuring Omaha’s own Wai Yim and Jimmy Nguyen will highlight the work and voices of Asian American theater artists. Wai Yim is an actor, director, choreographer, playwright and Managing Director of Token Theatre in Chicago. Jimmy Nguyen is an actor who has worked across the nation at regional theaters including The BLUEBARN Theatre in Omaha; Black Hills Playhouse in Custer, SD; and Hope Repertory Theatre in Holland, MI.

March 7, 2024

Girl, Let's Talk: A Conversation with Women in the Arts featuring Kathy Tyree
7:00 PM│Location TBD
Sisters, let’s chat! Join Kathy Tyree and an all-star lineup of women excelling and making moves in the local and national arts industry.

April 5, 2024

Shattering the Norm: An Inside Look into TAIKOPROJECT's Benzaiten
7:00 PM│Highlander Accelerator (2112 N 30th St.)
Drumming troupe TAIKOPROJECT’s latest full-length work shatters gender stereotypes. Channeling the Japanese goddess, Benzaiten unites Japanese tradition with modern American innovation. Join the all-star San Francisco-based company for a unique, talk and play workshop for community members before they perform at the Orpheum Theater April 6.

April 25, 2024

“Earth Tones:" Connecting Creativity, Conservation and Communities featuring jazz master, Etienne Charles
7:00 PM│Kiewit Luminarium (345 Riverfront Dr.)
Etienne Charles is a jazz musician, teacher, social justice advocate and avid environmental conservationist. Learn how he is bridging the creativity of music and science to tell compelling stories of significant environmental challenges in marginalized communities through music and dance.

May 14, 2024

Asian American Voices in Fashion
7:00 PM│Millwork Commons (13th and Nicholas St.)
Omaha’s Fashion Arts Collective and O-pa are partnering again to bring fashion to the forefront. This year’s event will highlight Asian culture, artists and influences in the fashion industry.

June 1, 2024

Global Sounds
4:00 to 10:00 PM│Upland Park (3014 Jefferson St.)
Global Sounds returns to Upland Park for a free festival presented in partnership with Canopy South. Global Sounds celebrates our cultural fabric through music, dance, food and community.

Programming note
Omaha Performing Arts recognizes that the events above do not represent all Asian American cultures and traditions. We are dedicated to continuing the conversation, exploration and amplification of more Asian American voices in seasons to come guided by input from the Voices AMPLIFIED! committee and our community.

 

 

Voices AMPLIFIED!

Panelists from the Voices Amplified event Rhymes and Reasons

 

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About Voices AMPLIFIED!

About Voices AMPLIFIED!

Who's Involved
Past seasons
IDEA Commitment

Watch highlights from the 21/22 finale!



Thank you to our Voices AMPLIFIED! sponsors

Mutual of Omaha Logo

FNBO

Humanities Nebraska

national endowment for the arts