We're here to remind you that May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and the 2025 theme is “A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience”—making now a perfect time to reflect on the history, contributions, and creativity of the AAPI community. We've gathered a handful of activities across New York City, from kid-friendly storytelling to dance performances to movie screenings, to kickstart your celebrations.

Japan Society, in collaboration with Metrograph and The Japan Foundation, New York, pays homage to Japanese filmmaker Mikio Naruse (1905–1969), who crafted an austere world across his four-decade career, excavating the lives of women and the milieu of Japan’s working class, with Mikio Naruse: The World Betrays Us – Part I. Japan Society first presented a retrospective of Naruse’s work in 1973—then noted as the “first film series ever devoted exclusively to the work of Naruse”—and again in 1984 with the Museum of Modern Art. Running May 9–31, 2025, this month’s series commemorates the 120th anniversary of Naruse’s birth and marks his first New York retrospective in 20 years.

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This month, Queens Public Library is offering over 75 special programs ranging from arts and crafts, author talks, concerts, exhibits, and many more. Participate in the opening of Photo Exhibition: Chinese Laborers and the U.S. Transcontinental Railroad on Saturday, May 10, at 1pm––this photo exhibit hosted by APAPA New York and Flushing Library honors the thousands of Chinese laborers who played a vital role in constructing the first transcontinental railroad in the United States (1865–1869). The completion of this railroad transformed the U.S. transportation and trade industries and had a profound impact on the U.S. economy that can be felt to this day. The exhibit will be on view until May 31 at Queens Public Library, Flushing. On Saturday, May 17, join Queens Public Library, East Flushing, for Lei Day in NYC: Hawaiian Lei Making Workshop. Learn about the cultural significance of lei (Hawaiian garlands) and try your hand at making your own fresh flower lei. Explore the Queens Library calendar for the full list of programs!

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Asia Society offers robust programming celebrating the depth and diversity of Asian and Asian American experiences. This month, the cultural center is hosting a variety of engaging events at the intersection of history, identity, and art across Asia and the Asian diaspora. Upcoming highlights include a screening and discussion of Three Seasons, a film that looks at the complexities of post-war Vietnam, Suzaku, a quietly resonant Japanese film about rural life and human emotion, and a talk on Making Modern Korean Art, co-presented with Tina Kim Gallery, which delves into the new publication examining the letters of pioneering artists Kim Tschang-Yeul, Kim Whanki, Lee Ufan, and Park Seo-Bo from 1961–1982.

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Do you know how Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month started? On May 18, join New York Historical Society for Asian American and Pacific Islander Family Day! Explore the history of the AAPI community with a day of story times, living history, art making, and an AAPI family guide.

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Brooklyn Children's Museum has an assortment of family-friendly AAPI festivities throughout the month of May. Every Thursday, join BCM for a series of programs including special storytimes, dance performances, bilingual English-Chinese storytelling, and even dumpling making. Next Thursday, May 15, take part in a storytelling and dance workshop with Ajna Dance Company exploring classical Indian dance. On Thursday, May 29, join performers from the New York Chinese Cultural Center as they bring the story of Mulan to life. Take part in a hands-on lesson where you can try out the dance and kung fu movements yourself!

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On May 29, AIA New York and the AIANY Women in Architecture Committee are honored to feature Mimi Hoang, AIA, Co-Founding Partner, nARCHITECTS, as a keynote speaker. Hoang's presentation, Civic Natures, will discuss the work of nARCHITECTS through the lens of her personal motivations and path through professional and academic realm.