A list of upcoming events organized or supported by Baltimore Sister Cities and our sister city committees (Changwon, South Korea; Gbarnga, Liberia; Kawasaki, Japan; Luxor & Alexandria, Egypt; Odesa, Ukraine; Piraeus, Greece; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Xiamen, China) and our affiliates. Events include:
September 21, 2025 – March 8, 2025
The Way of Nature: Art from Japan, China, and Korea
Exhibition at the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA)
For centuries, East Asian cultures have considered human life as part of a much larger system that encompasses the natural world. More than 40 artworks from Japan, China, and Korea demonstrate a way of living where mountains and seas, animals—both wild and supernatural—and plant life and insects are symbolically meaningful and historically pervasive in visual culture. The objects range from delicate 13th-century porcelain to a luminous 18th-century embroidered silk Buddhist Priest’s Robe and large-scale 20th-century photography. Collectively, these works provide a sense of the impulse to fully experience the natural world, as foundational to our existence, as impacted by human life, and as an enduring metaphor for our survival.
More information: artbma.org/exhibition/the-way-of-nature-art-from-japan-china-and-korea
November 15, 2025
Japan Film Program
A Story from Chikamatsu (近松物語) 1954, dir. by Kenji Mizoguchi
Dates: Saturday, November 15th, 1:00 pm
Location: Towson University’s Center for the Arts, Room CA #2032
Admission: Free; advance registration required.
More Information: https://www.bkscc.org/news-events/japan-film-program
In this 1954 historical drama, an Edo-period Kyoto scroll maker, his apprentice, wife, and servant spin a web of star-crossed romance, betrayal, and compromised morality. Based on a classic eighteenth-century Japanese bunraku puppet-theater drama by the acclaimed Chikamatsu Monzaemon, Kenji Mizoguchi’s stunning film masterfully portrays the fears, frustrations, hopes and vulnerabilities of the story’s characters.
Hosted by Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister City Committee in partnership with Towson University’s Asian Arts & Culture Center.
December 3, 2025
Maryland State of The Ports & Global Flavor Showcase
Dates: Wednesday, December 3, 4:00 – 7:30pm
Location: Baltimore Museum of Industry
Admission: $95.00
More Information: wtci.org/events/state-of-the-ports
The State of the Ports & Global Flavor Showcase offers a unique opportunity to gain insight into the critical role Maryland’s ports play in driving economic growth, global trade, and regional development. Hosted at the Port of Baltimore, this annual event convenes business leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to discuss the latest strategies, challenges, and opportunities shaping international commerce. Complementing these discussions is the Global Flavor Showcase, where attendees can experience curated wines and cuisine from around the world—highlighting the cultural and economic connections that trade makes possible. This distinguished gathering provides both valuable knowledge and meaningful networking in an engaging and globally focused setting.
February 15, 2025 – March 1, 2026
Lunar New Year Arts Festival
Dates: Wednesday, December 3, 4:00 – 7:30pm
Location: Vollmer Center, Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Avenue
Admission: Free
Celebrate the rich traditions and themes of the Lunar New Year and Asian and Asian American communities and welcome in the Year of the Horse (the zodiac symbol that embodies confidence, power, joy, freedom, energy, and perseverance) with a series of community events. The public will enjoy a diverse array of music, dance, visual art, spoken word, markets, and other cultural activities. This event is a platform to honor and share the traditions of many Asian and Asian American cultures and communities that call our area home.
Events included:
- Artists Market and Resource Fair on March 1, 12-3pm
- Art exhibition by Asia American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) artists February 15–28 (with an opening reception on February 15)
- Celebration of Talent with performing artists on February 22,12-3pm
More information: www.eventbrite.com/e/lunar-new-year-celebration-of-talent-tickets
Organized by the National Association of Asian American Professionals Baltimore Chapter (NAAAP Baltimore) and the Towson University Asian Arts and Culture Center (AA&CC).
June 5, 2026
Baltimore Immigration Summit
The annual Baltimore Immigration Summit is a one-day event that brings together academics, policymakers, service providers, activists, community leaders, and others working with and for New Americans (immigrants and refugees) in the Baltimore region. The 2026 edition of the summit will be hosted at Morgan State University.
More information: mima.baltimorecity.gov/10th-baltimore-immigration-summit/baltimore-immigration-summit
Deadline for applications to be a panelist or present a poster: Friday, January 16, 2026 at 5pm ET.
Presentation guidelines: bit.ly/2026-BIS-Info
Application form: bit.ly/BIS-2026
