5th Annual TC AAPI Program to Feature Spoken Word Artist Masaki Takahashi and Film Screening by Liann Kaye

Click HERE to reserve your FREE tickets!

The Dennos Museum Center will host the 5th Annual TC Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) program on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Dennos Museum Center and Milliken Auditorium, headlined by spoken word artist Masaki Takahashi and a special film screening by filmmaker Liann Kaye.

The evening’s keynote program will feature Masaki Takahashi, Poet Laureate Emeritus of Lansing, Michigan (2022–2024), whose powerful, community-centered work has been featured on platforms including Button Poetry and TEDx. As founder of The Poetry Room, Takahashi is widely recognized for creating spaces that uplift diverse voices and for his commitment to education, mentorship, and the transformative power of storytelling.

The program will also include a screening of Seoul Switch, the award-winning proof-of-concept short film written and directed by Liann Kaye. The story follows a shy Korean American college student and a global K-pop idol who discover they are identical doubles and swap lives, exploring themes of identity, ambition, and authenticity. The feature adaptation is currently in development and has already received significant industry support.

The evening will begin with a reception at 5:00 PM, followed by the main program from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, including the keynote spoken word program and film screening.

Event Details:

5th Annual TC AAPI Program to Feature Spoken Word Artist Masaki Takahashi and Film Screening by Liann Kaye

Dennos Museum Center and Milliken Auditorium

1410 College Drive, Traverse City

5:00–6:00 PM: Reception

6:00–8:00 PM: Spoken word program and film screening

This event is made possible by Northern Michigan E3, the Dennos Museum Center, the NMC Library, The Good Bowl, Samsara, and Traverse Area District Library and is free and open to the public. Free registration in advance is strongly encouraged at dennosmuseum.org by signing up through Simpletix.

About TC AAPI

Join Traverse City's AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Community for a free event with the goal to build greater understanding and empathy for people of different cultural backgrounds through positive engagement and welcoming learning events.