On May 22nd, the APIA Scholars celebrated their 20th Anniversary at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, from 5-9pm. The event offered guests a chance to dress up and experience an unforgettable gala. Guests were encouraged to explore the venue, featuring food stations and activations that highlighted various Asian and Polynesian cultures.
For the 300 guests at the event, they were invited to explore the venue and enjoy various food stations and activations throughout the evening. The VIP hour from 5-6pm marked the beginning of the festivities, providing an exclusive experience for early arrivals. The main stage program, running from 7-8pm, featured engaging speakers and DJ Spencer Ludwig’s dynamic horn performance, creating a captivating highlight of the evening.
Food and drink offerings were diverse and unique at every station, with passed tray food changing hourly to keep the experience fresh. At the entrance, we crafted a memorable photo moment featuring a custom step and repeat backdrop and a large-scale acrylic free-standing logo, providing guests with a perfect photo opportunity.
Inside Aratani Hall, Jason Arimoto’s ukulele set the mood with live entertainment. Custom pillars showcased APIA Scholars’ artwork, enhanced by multimedia elements where artists spoke about their pieces through video or audio.
Far Bar curated the food and cocktails, incorporating flavors from various Asian cultures and showcasing APIA-owned liquor brands. This culinary diversity added to the richness of the event, celebrating APIA Scholars’ achievements and cultural contributions in a truly memorable way.
Both the client and their guests were deeply impressed and delighted, describing the event as unlike anything they had experienced before. It was a truly special occasion, celebrating 20 distinguished years of service by APIA Scholars. We successfully captured the unique yet elegant elements the client envisioned, showcasing a blend of Asian and Polynesian cultures throughout the evening – from the food to the activations to the entertainment. The venue, which we meticulously sourced and secured, was particularly loved by all attendees, adding to the overall ambiance and success of the celebration.