Year of the Horse Party: Celebrating and Uplifting the Arts
On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Pao Arts Center supporters, artists, and Leadership Council members celebrated the Lunar New Year with the Year of the Horse Party. Now in its third year, this annual tradition brings together patrons, community members, and artists to support Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) narratives and perspectives.
Photo credit: Wenbin Huang
The evening brought together over 100 people to inspire new conversations around the importance of making the arts an essential resource for all to enjoy. Tremendous effort was made by the Leadership Council and event sponsors, who, together with attendees, raised over $16,000 for free, accessible arts programming in the year ahead.
Photo credit: Wenbin Huang
Party-goers enjoyed live watercolor portraits, a silent auction, and two exhibits: theYear of the Horse Exhibit, featuring 34 works for sale by local artists; and Busing the Buffer Zone: Chinatown Mother Boycott Oral History in Play, an exploration of local history through the eyes of Chinatown residents. In addition, they enjoyed bites by MeiMei Dumplings and music by Zishi Liu.
Photo credit: Wenbin Huang
Events such as these are offered to Pao Arts Center supporters, and if you are interested in supporting AAPI artists and the local community, we encourage you to reach out to us at arts@bcnc.net or to make an online donation.
Special thanks to:
Event sponsors: Nancy Wang Adams and Scott A. Schoen, Ellie and Brian Chu, Agustina Lee, Eleanor and Frank Pao, Laura Sen, Ami Shim, and George Yip.
Silent auction donors: Pong Chao and Waichi Wong
Leadership Council Members: Nancy Wang Adams, Eleanor Pao, Hsiu-Lan Chang, Ada Chu, Brian Chu, Agustina Lee, Laura Sen, Ami Shim, Waichi Wong, MD, Janet Wu, Yu-Wen Wu, and George Yip
Photographer: Wenbin Huang
Pao Arts Center volunteers