New York City is home to the densest agglomeration of cosmopolitan cultural outposts in the world. The Midtown East neighborhood of Manhattan—from 59th street to 34th street, bound by the East River and Madison Avenue—boasts dozens of distinct international cultural organizations offering a dizzying array of programs connecting New York audiences to global culture in the form of international art exhibitions, live music, performance, film screenings, lectures, literary programs, and more. In just a few scant city blocks, visitors can quite literally immerse themselves in the art of the entire world. Yet, midtown Manhattan still lags as a destination neighborhood. The Midtown Cultural Alliance (hereafter, MCA) is a coalition of presenters who intend to challenge this oversight. The five founding partners—Japan Society, L'Alliance New York, Scandinavia House, The Korea Society, and Korean Cultural Center New York—will work collaboratively to redefine our locality as one of New York’s signature destination neighborhoods, serving up the best traditional and contemporary art, music, film, and performance from around the world, right here in Midtown.
Calendar of Events
(Charged events are indicated by💰)
Fri. 9/12
Japan Society
Chiharu Shiota: Two Home Countries (gallery exhibition, 11 am-5 pm) 💰
Chiharu Shiota exhibition talk (4:30 pm) 💰
KINKAKUJI (performance 7:30 pm) 💰
The Korea Society
Guided Gallery Tour (3-6 pm)
Fall Happy Hour (6-9pm) 💰
Sat. 9/13
Japan Society
Chiharu Shiota: Two Home Countries (gallery exhibition, free admission, 12 -6 pm)
Japanese Writing Activity (1-4 pm)
KINKAKUJI (2:30 & 7:30 pm) 💰
L’Alliance:
Fall Open House 2025 (all free except trial lessons)
Trial Classes for Adults & Children (9:30 am - 4:15 pm) 💰
Book Sale & Exchange (10 am - 5 pm)
Family Visual Arts Workshop (10:15 am)
Les tutomouves Exhibition Opening Reception & Family Workshops (12 pm - 2 pm)
Family Film - Small Change (1:30 pm)
Film - The Second Act (4:30 pm)
Scandinavia House
Nordic Textile Takeover (2-6 pm)
Artist talks, curator walkthrough & reception 💰
Sun. 9/14
Japan Society
Chiharu Shiota: Two Home Countries (12-6 pm)💰
KINKAKUJI (2:30 pm) 💰
Scandinavia House
Open Gallery Hours (12-5 pm)
Artist-led workshops (12-3 pm) 💰
Tue. 9/16
Japan Society
Chiharu Shiota: Two Home Countries (11 am-5 pm) 💰
KINKAKUJI (7:30 pm)💰
The Korea Society
Beginning Korean Trial Class (6:30-8 pm)
L’Alliance
A Very Private Affair (film screening 4:00 & 7:00 pm) 💰
Scandinavia House
Hilma af Klint’s Botanical World (talk 6:30 pm)
Wed. 9/17
Japan Society
Chiharu Shiota: Two Home Countries (11-5pm) 💰
KINKAKUJI (7:30 pm)💰
L’Alliance
The Big Sleep (performance 7:30pm) 💰
Scandinavia House
Homecoming (screening and talk, 7:00)💰
Thu. 9/18
Japan Society
Chiharu Shiota: Two Home Countries (11am-5pm) 💰
KINKAKUJI (7:30 pm)💰
The Korea Society
The Unseen Resilience of North Korean Female Defectors (4-5:30pm)
Soju Party by Irene Yoo (6:30-7:30pm)
Korean Cultural Center, New York
New Korean Movie Night: Story Up Shorts in NY (7:30 pm)
L’Alliance
Black & White (film screening 4:00 & 7:00 pm)💰
Fri. 9/19
Japan Society
Chiharu Shiota: Two Home Countries (11 am-5 pm) 💰
Trial Japanese Lesson (1-2 pm)
KINKAKUJI (8:00 pm)💰
Scandinavia House
Writing the World from Copenhagen to NYC (talk 7:00 pm)
Sat. 9/20
Japan Society
Chiharu Shiota: Two Home Countries (free admission, 12-6 pm)
KINKAKUJI (2:30 and 7:30 pm)💰
Korean Cultural Center, New York
Meet the Author: Hyunmin Park – How to Be a True Friend Picture Book Workshop (2 pm)
Sun. 9/21
Japan Society
Chiharu Shiota: Two Home Countries (12-6 pm) 💰
