Come join us for a fun and creative event - the Korean Knots Workshop! Learn the art of making beautiful traditional Korean knots at the First United Methodist Church in Montgomery, AL.

This hands-on workshop will take place in Wesley Hall - Epworth Room. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Korea as our expert instructors guide you through the process of creating a keychain that displays an intricate and stunning plum knot.

Whether you're a beginner or have some experience, this workshop is perfect for all skill levels. Don't miss this opportunity to learn a unique craft and make new friends. Mark your calendars and prepare for a day filled with creativity and fun!

We are excited to introduce a Korean art form called Maedeup - Korean Knots! A-KEEP is collaborating with MMFA to host a hands-on workshop. Join us on Saturday, August 26th, from 1:30 to 3:30 pm, as we explore the intricate and beautiful world of Korean knots. Maedeup is a traditional craft that involves creating decorative knots using various materials.

In this workshop, participants will learn the techniques and patterns of Maedeup and create their own unique knots. Starting from two strands, Korean knots make unique forms as they are overlapped or plaited, crossing each other in many ways. The forms of Korean knots were given names such as "nabi maedeup"(butterfly knots) and "gukwa maedeup" (chrysanthemum knots), in reference to things in the surrounding environment that were perceived as being similar in their appearance. No prior experience is required, and all materials will be provided.

DONATIONS ARE APPRECIATED!

Don't miss this opportunity to discover the art of Korean knots and unleash your creativity. Space is very limited. Register now for the Korean Knots Workshop at MMFA website!

Three artists from South Korea will share their artistry with a presentation at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts in conjunction with the Tying the Knots between Beauty & Function Exhibition at the RSA Alabama Commerce Center at 401 Adams Avenue in Montgomery from August 29th – September 8th, 2023.

Introducing the Artists

Jiyoung Yu

Yu, Jiyoung studied traditional Art & Craft at Korea National University of Cultural Heritage. She completed a master’s degree in clothing industry at Ewha University and a traditional knot lecture. It operates the Korea Textile Arts & Crafts Lab and supplies crafts to the art shop Ewha Woman University Museum. She participated as a researcher in a number of research projects related to Hanbok materials and design, submitted to domestic and foreign group exhibitions and special exhibitions, and produced works to convey the technique and aesthetic of traditional textile crafts.

Jooeun Lee

Lee, Jooeun is a graduate student of the Department of Traditional Art and Crafts at the Korean Traditional Culture University, majoring in textile. She obtained a certificate of culture and arts education and conducted programs related to traditional Korean textile crafts through museums and various centers. She also participated in exhibitions focusing on various Korean traditional textile crafts and won the silver prize at the Jeonju Traditional Crafts National Exhibition in 2021.

Yujin Choi

She is a master’s degree student in the Department of Traditional Art and Crafts at the Korean Traditional Culture University and works as an assistant lecturer at the Hansan Mosi Weaving Training School, Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 14. With various experiences related to Korean traditional fibers such as sewing, textiles, knots, dyeing, and embroidery, She participated in various exhibitions and fabric restoration projects linked to Korean museums.

AKEEP is hosting a Hybrid Korean Speech Contest on January 10th at 4:30 PM. The contest is open to all students from 6th grade and up who have participated in Startalk, Korean after school clubs, and Korean classes as well as community students currently enrolled in the Community KSL classes. This contest is only for language students who did not grow up speaking Korean as their first language.

Prizes will be awarded to every language level. If you are unsure of your level, please email Koreanedu@akeep.org for a placement interview.

Speech contest participants are required to create a 1–3-minute script on one of the following topics:

1) Compare and Contrast American and Korean school life or

2) Why I am learning Korean.

Speech scripts are due by Jan 1st and participants must be able to give their speech, memorized and in Korean on January 10th, in person or online.

To register and submit your script, click below.

With the leading artist HyeWon Yu, visiting Korean artists will share their artistry with a presentation and Korean quilt (JoGakBo or patchwork) workshop. You will make a Teapot Pouch (DaGhiBo) as shown.

This special collaboration with the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts is in conjunction with the International Quilts Exhibition at the RSA Alabama Commerce Center at 401 Adams Avenue in Montgomery from September 14-27, 2022. This workshop is free for the public, and materials will be provided to the participants BUT you need to register to reserve your seat on the MMFA website: SEE the Bottom for the link

HyeWon Yu

After earning a bachelor’s degree, I worked for Pierre Cardin and Ssangbangwool as a designer for four years. With four (4) years of professional fashion industry experience, I went to graduate school and majored in Korean Fashion History, especially in natural dyeing and traditional needlework. I presented numerous exhibitions and conferences during my doctoral courses. After completing my Ph.D., I lectured on the History of Korean Costume at Auburn University and taught at Chung-Ang University.

Jaekoo Ha

 I have been running the Ssamzisarang Boudoir Crafts Academy for 20 years. The Academy is a community of about 40,000 people who are trying to promote the beauty of Jogakbo, one of Korea's leading Boudoir Crafts, to the world.

I have exhibited works of Jogakbo throughout Italy, Vietnam, New Zealand, Brazil, Taiwan, China, and Japan. One of my Jogakbo artworks was used as a gift from the Princess of the United Arab Emirates for the official activities of the first lady of South Korea.

If women all over the world do quilting, it is Korean women who make Jogakbo - a traditional Korean patchwork sewn by hand that is reincarnated as a unique Masterpiece to the world.

I hope you can feel and appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of Jogakbo through this exhibition.

Hyekyong (Heather) Yun

I majored in visual design in Korea and have 11 years of experience as a hologram designer.  I have a practical teacher license obtained in Korea and a is a mother of three.  Seven years ago, while volunteering for a multicultural event at a public school, she met representatives of A-KEEP. This meeting became a relationship that grew and she has used her talents for over two years designing posters for various events, and creating the Startalk summer language camp’s logo. She managed to translate her 3D hologram design experience into creating beautiful Hanji sculptures. She taught the workshops at schools and the community. She displayed her talents in AKEEP’s 2020 Hanji Exhibition by designing Hanji dolls. For the 2021 Hanji Exhibition - 'Light Shined by Hanji' she created various Hanji lanterns and did a great job as the project manager.

Have you been waiting for the newest Montgomery Kimchi T-shirts, hats, and...JERSEYS?🥬

“That That” KPOP Dance Performance

Click the Ticket Link below to purchase special A-KEEP Seating:

BUY Tickets Now!

Learn Hangul with A-KEEP!

This June, A-KEEP is hosting our “Learn Hangul” event at LEAD Academy. This event will provide fun and interactive ways to help the community learn to read and write Hangul. The event activities, a mixture of academics and culture, were chosen to help participants get a step closer to Korean learning. These activities allow for participants to retain more information through multisensory learning. This event is open to the community and participants of all ages!

Thank you to LEAD Academy for hosting our event!

Check out our Facebook and Instagram for updates on future events!

Spring is Here and Love is at the Davis Theatre on June 10th

A Korean traditional folktale performance “The Fairy and the Lumberjack” starts on June 10th, 2022, at the Davis Theatre! Our choreographer Ms. Sudha Raghuram is a native from India who is now a resident of Montgomery.  Alabama play writer and director Ms. Angela Dickson continues to skillfully write a script that integrates the cultures together to produce the story of a lumberjack who married a fairy! Please come and attend our performance! Scan the QR code to buy the tickets! See you at the show. 

If you have any questions, please contact join@akeep.org or call 334.625.8515 

SPRING MEANS MONTGOMERY BISCUITS BASEBALL & A-KEEP’s FUNDRAISING! COME ALL! SAVE THE DATE!

On Friday, April 29th at 6:35 PM - Montgomery Biscuits vs Mississippi Braves at Riverwalk Stadium in beautiful downtown Montgomery. Our Montgomery crown jewel non-profit, AKEEP - Alabama Korea Education and Economic Partnership, will be selling tickets in a special box of seats, with the proceeds going to the AKEEP organization. Please click on the QR code to be directed to our highlighted box of seating and complete your purchase online.

Vendors and Partners with businesses please contact Mike Murphy: mmurphy@biscuitsbaseball.com. See you there!

We are looking for actors, actresses, and dancers OF ALL AGES

What to Expect:

1. Read from a script (provided)

2. Participate in a short movement piece

3. Korean is not required to audition!

FOR MORE DETAILS: Call 334.625.8515 or Email CA@akeep.org

On June 10th at the Davis Theater, A-KEEP wants to proudly showcase a community theater performance made of KSL students, parents, family members, former event participants and ANY residents in the Montgomery area of one of the most popular of all Korean folktales, “The Fairy and the Lumberjack.” The script is based on the story called The Fairy and the Woodcutter and will be adapted from both Korean and Alabamian cultures to provide an opportunity to have a new interpretation of a well-known tale.

Check out our Facebook  and Instagram for updates!

We are looking for actors, actresses, and dancers OF ALL AGES

What to Expect:

1. Read from a script (provided)

2. Participate in a short movement piece

3. Korean is not required to audition!

FOR MORE DETAILS: Call 334.625.8515 or Email CA@akeep.org

On June 10th at the Davis Theater, A-KEEP wants to proudly showcase a community theater performance made of KSL students, parents, family members, former event participants and ANY residents in the Montgomery area of one of the most popular of all Korean folktales, “The Fairy and the Lumberjack.” The script is based on the story called The Fairy and the Woodcutter and will be adapted from both Korean and Alabamian cultures to provide an opportunity to have a new interpretation of a well-known tale.

Check out our Facebook  and Instagram for updates!

Get pumped, get your dancing shoes, and get ready because K-Pop is Coming to Montgomery! Join us on September 28th, 7 PM CDT at the Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts for a line-up you won't want to miss!

Artists include Jay Chang, INTER GIRLS, Luminous and more!

And don't miss the Traditional Hanbok Fashion Show at 6:30 PM CDT before the concert! Come celebrate both traditional and contemporary Korean art for a fun-filled night by scanning the QR code below to purchase tickets. Or, follow this link https://www.eventbrite.com/.../k-pop-comes-to-mgm-tickets...

This is a family event for fans of all ages. Come out to see some upcoming K-pop idols!

Check out our Facebook for updates!

During the STARTALK camp Catch the Wave, our students made beautiful lanterns. On September 1st and 8th at the Armory Learning Center’s art studio, in downtown Montgomery we will host two workshops for the community from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.  Our theme is Shine A Light.

More than paper, Hanji, a durable Korean fiber has been a part of Korean culture for over 3000 years that is it is a distinctly recognizable attribute of Korean culture. The production of Hanji is ingrained in the fiber of Korean society. Created in the 3rd century, the Hanji industry flourished, designed and manipulated for household items, tobacco pouches and so on.  

However, due to modernization, it has lost its place as a centerpiece of Korean life. AKEEP wants to preserve and recognize Hanji's culturally significant value by exhibiting a cultural treasure to Alabama and share its historical and cultural significance with fellow Alabamians. Koreans, like Alabamians, are proud of their unique cultural heritage and influence and want to share their culture, creativity, and human ingenuity with Alabamians 

During the STARTALK camp Catch the Wave, our students made beautiful lanterns. On September 1st and 8th at the Armory Learning Center’s art studio, in downtown Montgomery we will host two workshops for the community from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.  Our theme is Shine A Light.

More than paper, Hanji, a durable Korean fiber has been a part of Korean culture for over 3000 years that is it is a distinctly recognizable attribute of Korean culture. The production of Hanji is ingrained in the fiber of Korean society. Created in the 3rd century, the Hanji industry flourished, designed and manipulated for household items, tobacco pouches and so on.  

However, due to modernization, it has lost its place as a centerpiece of Korean life. AKEEP wants to preserve and recognize Hanji's culturally significant value by exhibiting a cultural treasure to Alabama and share its historical and cultural significance with fellow Alabamians. Koreans, like Alabamians, are proud of their unique cultural heritage and influence and want to share their culture, creativity, and human ingenuity with Alabamians 

The Beloved Daughter of the Sims - A play with music and dance

A-KEEP is proud to showcase a community theatre performance based on an 18th century Korean folktale, "The Faithful Daughter of Sim Cheong."

Korean traditional dance, choreographed by a native Korean dancer SoJeong Kim, and Alabama screenwriter and director, Angie Dickson have woven cultures together to produce a light-hearted story about the unselfish actions of a daughter born to her widowed blind father to show her honor and devotion. Challenge America!

A-KEEP is a non-profit that serves as a bridge for unity between the Alabama and Korean cultures and languages. We provide education programs, community enrichment, and multicultural experiences. Every year, we host a Korean cultural event with a grant award from ASCA to Challenge America - to learn about other cultures with visual and performing arts.

Join us after the show for a Taste of Korea for 10$.

The Alabama-Korea Education and Economic Partnership (A-KEEP) invites our community to open auditions for amateur actors and actresses, dancers, stagehands and support staff to participate in the our 6th annual Korean Cultural Experience (KCE) musical performance of The Beloved Daughter of the Shims. Auditions, open to all ages, will be held on Monday, March 1st and Thursday, March 18th at 6:00 pm at the Armory Learning Center Fitness room.

Picture yourself in one of these roles? Then join us and audition for our production

Auditioning actors, actresses, and dancers will participate by reading from a provided script and learn and perform a short movement piece. Korean speaking skills are not required to audition.

The Beloved Daughter of the Shims is a musical play based on the Korean folktale Sim Cheong. The story will be adapted from both Korean and Alabamian cultures to provide an opportunity to have the new interpretation of a well-known tale. This community-based musical theater production will challenge Alabamians to become bridges of cultures between local migrant Korean and Alabamians communities under the direction of a local professional director and playwright, Dr. Angela Dickson and professional dance instructor. 

Thanks to funding from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, Hodges Commercial Real Estate, and the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, the program will push high-quality and multicultural learning to move audience members from being bystanders to partakers in bridging cultural arts between Alabama and Korea.

A-KEEP’s mission is to provide multicultural diversity education programs to the students and professionals of both Alabama and Korea. A-KEEP also serves the community as a global partnership facilitator by bridging the differences between institutions and corporations of Alabama and Korea for local economic prosperity. Our annual KCE provides community enrichment and multicultural experiences to local people.

The Alabama-Korea Education and Economic Partnership (A-KEEP) invites our community to open auditions for amateur actors and actresses, dancers, stagehands and support staff to participate in the our 6th annual Korean Cultural Experience (KCE) musical performance of The Beloved Daughter of the Shims. Auditions, open to all ages, will be held on Tuesday, March 2nd and Tuesday, March 9th at 6:00 pm at the Armory Learning Center Fitness room.

Picture yourself in one of these roles? Then join us and audition for our production

Auditioning actors, actresses, and dancers will participate by reading from a provided script and learn and perform a short movement piece. Korean speaking skills are not required to audition.

The Beloved Daughter of the Shims is a musical play based on the Korean folktale Sim Cheong. The story will be adapted from both Korean and Alabamian cultures to provide an opportunity to have the new interpretation of a well-known tale. This community-based musical theater production will challenge Alabamians to become bridges of cultures between local migrant Korean and Alabamians communities under the direction of a local professional director and playwright, Dr. Angela Dickson and professional dance instructor. 

Thanks to funding from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, Hodges Commercial Real Estate, and the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, the program will push high-quality and multicultural learning to move audience members from being bystanders to partakers in bridging cultural arts between Alabama and Korea.

A-KEEP’s mission is to provide multicultural diversity education programs to the students and professionals of both Alabama and Korea. A-KEEP also serves the community as a global partnership facilitator by bridging the differences between institutions and corporations of Alabama and Korea for local economic prosperity. Our annual KCE provides community enrichment and multicultural experiences to local people.