‘Mosaic of Cultures: Aurora’s Filipino Community’ exhibit opens at the Aurora History Museum April 21
The Aurora History Museum and the city’s Office of International and Immigrant Affairs celebrate Aurora’s vibrant Filipino community with the new exhibition “Mosaic of Cultures: Aurora’s Filipino Community,” set to open Tuesday, April 21, at the Aurora History Museum, 15051 E. Alameda Parkway.
This exhibition is part of the “Mosaic of Cultures” series, which promotes understanding of Aurora’s culturally diverse populations while incorporating the voices of those local communities into the city’s history. For the creation of the exhibition, the Aurora History Museum conducted a community outreach campaign to capture the perspective of the Filipino people in Aurora and receive crucial feedback on how they wanted to be represented in this unique exhibit.
“’Mosaic of Cultures: Aurora’s Filipino Community’ is a unique opportunity to explore the rich and unique aspects of this community, including their distinct music, art, dance, religion and traditional foods,” said T. Scott Williams, director of the Aurora History Museum. “By showcasing these unique cultural elements, the exhibition aims to raise awareness of the significant and invaluable contributions of the Filipino community to Aurora’s history.”
The “Mosaic of Cultures: Aurora’s Filipino Community” exhibit highlights the stories of individuals, business owners and their cultural traditions and history, and features cultural objects provided by community members, archival images, interviews and immersive elements to bring the essence of the Philippines to life.
The Filipino community in Aurora represents a rich tapestry of traditions, customs and cultural practices. From vibrant festivals to traditional music and dance, the Filipino community has added a unique and colorful dimension to the cultural fabric of the city. The exhibition will allow residents and visitors to learn about and appreciate the diverse cultural heritage. Through personal stories, historic context, art and cultural traditions, this exhibit highlights how Filipino Americans have contributed to our local history. Some of the exhibited objects on display will include a Congressional Medal of Honor, Indigenous Filipino style textile woven by a local artist, and musical instruments representing the Filipino rondalla tradition. The exhibition will run through April 2027.
The opening reception, filled with local Filipino cuisine, traditional music and dance, will take place from 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday, April 25 at the museum. Throughout the duration of the exhibition, there will be several related programs including Filipino Friday Nights, community partner guided exhibition tours and artist workshops, such as parol lantern making.
Learn more about this exhibit and program updates at AuroraMuseum.org.
In the past, “Mosaic of Cultures” has highlighted Aurora’s Ethiopian, Salvadorean, Mexican and Nepali communities.
About the Aurora History Museum
The Aurora History Museum opened in 1979. In 1990, it moved to its present location, reopened in 1991 and became a part of the city of Aurora Cultural Services Division, the largest single provider of arts and culture programs in Aurora. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for children ages 3 to 17. To stay up to date on related programming, call 303.739.6660 or visit AuroraMuseum.org.