A significant portion of New York’s Asian American cultural history is currently under threat. On February 9, frozen sprinkler pipes burst in a Flushing building owned by Asian Americans for Equality. This building holds the art, archives, and resources of the Asian American Arts Centre (AAAC).
The accident soaked archival materials and exposed hundreds of artworks to water. Staff and volunteers have spent weeks attempting to stabilize the items, but the organization warns that the window to prevent permanent loss is closing. Robert Lee, the founder and retiring executive director, said the team spent 72 hours “salvaging the artworks, artists archive, files and resources at the Centre.”
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The AAAC started in 1974 as the Asian American Dance Theatre. Since then, it has spent over five decades documenting the lives and practices of Asian American artists. The collection is extensive, containing roughly 400 pieces of art and 1,800 individual artist files.
These materials are more than just records; they represent decades of community-building and cross-cultural work in New York City. The Centre describes the collection as “living knowledge” rather than static storage. It has played a vital role in fostering solidarity across different communities through decades of exhibitions and workshops.
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This disaster occurred as the Centre was moving into a new phase of its existence. With the help of a $1.3 million city grant, the Flushing site was being renovated into a permanent research center and community hub. The goal is to create a space where students, scholars, and neighbors can engage directly with the archives.
Past initiatives, such as “Stories of Chinatown,” showed the value of this vision by bringing together middle school students and seniors to create collaborative art. The Centre hopes to continue this intergenerational work, but those plans now depend on the success of the current restoration efforts.
The race against time
The Centre has set a fundraising goal of $65,000 to cover the costs of professional conservation and specialized treatment. So far, the campaign has raised $9,000. These funds will pay for:
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Stabilizing water-damaged paintings and sculptures.
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Treating soaked paper archives to prevent mold and deterioration.
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Specialized transport and safe temporary storage.
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Ensuring the collection remains accessible to the public in the future.
The organization emphasizes that this is not a standard recovery project. A spokesperson for the Centre stated, “This is not only recovery from a disaster. It is the preservation of cultural memory for the diversity of our city and for Asian American communities wherever they may be.”
The team is acting with determination to safeguard these fifty years of work. They are asking for public support to ensure this history moves forward rather than being lost to the flood.
You can help protect this irreplaceable cultural history by donating to the emergency fund here
