Join us on Friday, May 10 (7:30 p.m.) when we will showcase Kiran Ahluwalia and her band in their debut performance, live at SAI. Their unique music that transcends genres and cultures, infuses South Asian music with African desert blues and Western styles. Event Details: TICKET PRICES: $25 Advance / $35 At Door WHEN: Friday, May 10 | 7:30 […]
We are pleased to announce the South Asian cast world premiere of the Pulitzer Prize & three-time Tony Award-winning musical Next to Normal! Through faith, religion, medication, trips to the doctor, and family support, Next to Normal explores how one family struggles with finding light in the darkness. Click the "Get Tickets" button to read more about […]
What is Seen and Unseen: Mapping South Asian American Art in Chicago is a ground-breaking exhibition documenting this amorphous history of art production and presentation. This is the first comprehensive exhibition to map and disseminate this vital chapter of Chicago’s art history. The survey comprises two parallel exhibitions: Shadows Dance Within the Archives, an archival […]
“Non violence (AHIMSA) needs you to have more strength and more courage”. John J. Pershing Magnet School for the Humanities & Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts invite you to AHIIMSA FOR FREEDOM - performed by middle schoolers. What happens when a ten year old child sees the monumental national struggle disrupting her home? Changing […]
We are pleased to announce the South Asian cast world premiere of the Pulitzer Prize & three-time Tony Award-winning musical Next to Normal! Through faith, religion, medication, trips to the doctor, and family support, Next to Normal explores how one family struggles with finding light in the darkness. Click the "Get Tickets" button to read more about […]
We are pleased to announce the South Asian cast world premiere of the Pulitzer Prize & three-time Tony Award-winning musical Next to Normal! Through faith, religion, medication, trips to the doctor, and family support, Next to Normal explores how one family struggles with finding light in the darkness. Click the "Get Tickets" button to read more about […]
We are pleased to announce the South Asian cast world premiere of the Pulitzer Prize & three-time Tony Award-winning musical Next to Normal! Through faith, religion, medication, trips to the doctor, and family support, Next to Normal explores how one family struggles with finding light in the darkness. Click the "Get Tickets" button to read more about […]
We are pleased to announce the South Asian cast world premiere of the Pulitzer Prize & three-time Tony Award-winning musical Next to Normal! Through faith, religion, medication, trips to the doctor, and family support, Next to Normal explores how one family struggles with finding light in the darkness. Click the "Get Tickets" button to read more about […]
After the tremendous success of our first event, South Asia Institute is back with the second event in our bi-monthly open series, South Asians On The Mic, on Friday, May 31! We are now accepting submissions for artists to participate in this event. Please submit an application using the button below and support the artists […]
Mark your calendars! Save the date! South Asia Institute is hosting its Second Annual Fundraiser on Saturday, June 15, 2024 ! The highlight of the evening will be a live performance by Popular South Asian American artist who revolutionized Bhangra, DJ Rekha, along with other artists, amazing food and drinks, an art auction and much, […]
Carnatic classical music has been the common thread connecting diverse cultural communities in South India for thousands of years. The veena, a 24-fretted lute made Veena player Saraswathi Ranganathan has been winning accolades and fans for her mastery of the instrument. Saraswathi will be accompanied by Harsha Mandayam Bharathi on mridangam, a double-headed, barrel-shaped drum that is the main percussion […]
Join us for a moderated community conversation exploring how artists of South Asia and the diaspora navigate careers at the intersection of art and disability. This event invites participants into a community-building experience that highlights the resilience of artists with disabilities working in creative fields that are often not designed with accessibility in mind. Together, […]
Raga Boyz is a popular sufi-rock band from Pakistan featuring Wali Hamid Ali Khan, Inam Ali Khan and Nayab Ali Khan. The sibling trio band performs music of all genres, from Ragas to Rock, from Sufi to Heavy Metal, from Folk to Fusion. The Raga boys, being the sons of legendary Pakistani Ustad Hamid Ali […]
Chicago Sinfonietta and the South Asia Institute present a special program exploring the rich world of Bollywood film music. Featuring the Chicago Sinfonietta String Quartet and scholar Rochona Majumdar, the event combines live performance, film clips, and commentary to reveal the history, meaning, and cultural impact of these iconic scores. Expect a sneak peak into […]
He was called the "Einstein of Structural Engineering” In the 1960s, engineers believed skyscrapers were approaching their practical height limits. Fazlur Rahman Khan disagreed. His revolutionary "tube" design made buildings stronger, lighter, and taller than ever before. The idea helped create Chicago icons such as the John Hancock Center and Willis Tower and went on […]
Dhrupad Immersion: Pandit Uday Bhawalkar Live at SAI Saturday, July 11, 2026 South Asia Institute is pleased to welcome internationally acclaimed Dhrupad maestro Uday Bhawalkar for a rare evening of immersive Indian classical music. Rooted in one of South Asia’s oldest vocal traditions, the performance invites audiences into a contemplative sonic experience shaped by raga, […]
Chicago takes center stage in the new season of PBS's acclaimed food series Spice Road, and you're invited to celebrate where the journey begins. Join South Asia Institute for an exclusive evening featuring screenings of the first two Chicago episodes of Spice Road, followed by a live conversation with actor and co-creator Rupak Ginn and […]
Join South Asia Institute for Exploring Coastal Cuisine, the inaugural event of our Spices & Stories Culinary Arts Series. In partnership with Thattu, one of Chicago's acclaimed Kerala restaurants, this intimate evening invites guests to experience the vibrant flavors of Kerala through a curated meal and engaging conversation. Discover the stories, traditions, and cultural influences that have shaped […]
Experience The Blue-Hued Beloved, an afternoon celebrating the many artistic traditions inspired by Krishna, one of South Asia’s most enduring and beloved cultural figures. The program begins with a curator talk by SAI Curator Sydney Barofsky, offering insight into artworks that have shaped representations of the blue-hued deity across centuries. Accompanied by live Carnatic music, […]
What happens when a song crosses languages, generations, and time? South Asia Institute presents The Living Songs of Tagore, an intimate evening of live music, poetry, storytelling, and reflection featuring Rabindrasangeet vocalist and educator Maitreyee Chakraborty with live instrumental accompaniment. Through songs exploring love, longing, nature, spirituality, resilience, and the search for meaning, Maitreyee invites […]