The Frontview for Art and Architecture, Roya Khadjavi Projects, and The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation invite you to The 8th Floor to break bread and share in conversation as part of Asia Contemporary Art Week 2017. The afternoon will consist of two panel discussions and a roundtable Q&A, exploring the challenges, needs, and possible approaches towards immigration from the perspective of cultural policy and management in New York City, offering an opportunity to work together on solutions. Featured panelists include artist Shahrzad Changalvaee; Felicity Hogan, Director of NYFA Learning; artist and journalist Siddhartha Joag, founder of artistsafety.net; Clarinda Mac Low, Director of Culture Push; artist Basim Mardan; Laura Raicovich, Director of The Queens Museum; Sebastien Sanz de Santamaria, Director of Operations at Residency Unlimited; Laurel Ptak, Director of Art in General; and Diya Vij, Special Projects Commissioner’s Unit NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.

Middle Eastern and Eastern European cultures share a common tradition of welcoming guests with a symbolic offering of bread and salt. This folk tradition traverses Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The exchange of bread and salt is an effective tool for social interaction and is based on the concepts of trust, acceptance, loyalty, and generosity. Throughout the program, breads from a variety of ethnic bakeries will be served in the traditional manners adhering to specific cultures’ manifestations of exchanging bread and salt, culminating with a reception featuring an array of Persian delicacies.