Brief history of Root East/Root West, KACS arts and culture Programs

Initially, KACS organized arts and culture programming as a way to raise funds. In 1990, Kwangho Seo, a prominent pianist, held a benefit recital which was followed by similar events featuring Hans Choi (baritone), Ludmila Nam (mezzo soprano), Young Don Kim (tenor), Inah Choi (piano) and Soo Jung Shin (piano). In 1992, KACS formally launched arts and culture as a program area with the name KACS Arts:
Root East/Root West to acknowledge the dual nature of Korean American roots and heritage in the US and Korea. The mission of the program is two-fold: to provide outlets for creative and cultural expression for Korean American community members, and also to showcase the many talents of Korean and Korean American artists to Korean American and mainstream audiences.

As KACS expanded its arts and culture programs, issues related to youth came to the community?s attention. In response, KACS initiated various cultural projects to engage youth and provide opportunities for them to express themselves creatively and share their work. In 1996, the agency established its summer Noontime Concert series where young Korean American musicians perform to an ethnically diverse audience of seniors and youth who participate in KACS? senior and child daycare services. Root East/Root West has also presented other programs for youth to express their creativity through media such as poetry and videography. In 2002 KACS organized an Immigrant Family Poetry Project, where local youth from immigrant families wrote and then read poetry in four languages, which KACS later published.

Root East/Root West has been fortunate to receive support from Illinois Arts Council Special Assistance Grants to present special exhibits and performances highlighting Korean arts and history in multiple media. In 2003 we hosted an exhibition of historical Korean stamps and currency. In 2004 we presented two programs: Tradition Today which featured resident artists from Chicago?s Korean American community in lectures and demonstrations, and The Spirit of Korean Dance, featuring the world renowned Cho Heung Dong Dance Company of Seoul, Korea. In 2005 we presented two special exhibits, titled the Society through Small Frames: Korean War photographs taken by American combat photographers, and Korean comics from 1952 to the present that mirror post-war Korean sentiment with satirical, penetrating, and joyful representations of a rapidly changing society. In 2006 we presented Tradition and Creation, performed by Seoul Performing Arts Company (SPAC) in partnership with the Korea Society of New York. Established in 1986, SPAC has had a numerous historical performance including the closing and opening ceremony of Seoul Olympic 88, 99 Winter Asian Games, 2000 Korea Millennium Grand Gala, the promotional event for the World Cup 2001 and other famous international cultural events.