International Performing Arts, Inc. has a mission to initiate, facilitate and implement programs that develop a deeper understanding of the traditional performing arts of the cultures of the world and their place in contemporary American society. International Performing Arts, Inc., a not-for-profit, 501 (c) 3 corporation, has a mission of promoting performing arts from cultures of the world through programs of study, research and presentation of traditional, emerging and new multi-cultural performing arts activities. The organization, with an international board of directors and advisors, furthers these purposes by:

• planning, researching and implementing cultural programs and activities to promote knowledge of multi-cultural performing arts.

• stimulating an interest in performing arts of various cultures and peoples of the world resulting in cross- cultural collaborations oftentimes, between American participants and artists from around the world.

• encouraging interested artists to participate in multi-cultural activities resulting in the creation of new works for the betterment of contemporary society.

• sponsor cultural programs, concerts, educational activities and international programs that further these goals.

• Sustain on-going established programs of international cultural exchange including Summer Institute, KPA On Tour, Sounds of the World, Summer Sounds of the World and the Artist-In-Residence program.

• Develop new multi-cultural programs related to the needs of the local IPA urban community and home-base.

• Create the Black Rock Art Center, a multi-cultural art center for the creation and presentation, research and study of international arts activities.

In 1990, Joseph Celli had the opportunity to tour and perform throughout Korea with the Korean/American composer/komungo virtuoso Jin Hi Kim. On this trip he was struck by the profound richness of Korean traditional performing arts and the total lack of knowledge and understanding of them in the West. One of his performances was at the Korean Traditional Performing Arts Center (KTPAC) which is the oldest music organization in the world with a continuous history dating back to the ninth century (Shilla Dynasty). When he expressed his great admiration for, and interest in, the music of Korea to the director, Lee Sung-Yul, he was asked why he didn't come to study in Korea. Joseph subsequently was awarded the first Fulbright Fellowship to study Korean traditional music and from 1991 - 93, spent several months each year in Korea.

It became apparent at this time that there was a total lack of knowledge and understanding of this profound performing arts tradition. In 1992, Celli and Kim organized the first trip of American professors and scholars to Korea for an intensive six week program that became the Summer Institute. This on-going program of study of Korean traditional performing arts in Seoul has to date brought over 85 participants to Seoul and evolved into one of the largest cultural exchange programs between the USA and Asia.

Concurrent with this first trip, KPAI began the process of becoming a not-for-profit, 501(c)3, charitable institution with an international board of directors and advisors of leading Asian specialists. In 1994, KPAI developed a program with the Korean Ministry of Culture resulting in regular tours to the USA of National Living Treasures and other traditional artists with appearances as such venues as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, colleges and centers throughout the country. The initial activities of KPAI focused on international cultural exchange, national and regional touring and seminars.

In 1996, with the stabilization of these on-going programs, KPAI began to initiate specific programs related to its 'home-base' in Connecticut. A 1997 summer board retreat in NYC brought a diversification of KPAI towards other cultures, a name change, begun in 2001, and a more proactive position towards new cross-cultural performing arts from various cultures of the world. This has resulted in one of the most expansive world music series on the East Coast of the USA with up to 75 individual events per year.

In 2002, after two years of planning, IPA successfully stopped the destruction of a historic building and gained control of 17,500 sf facility. Currently IPA is in the process of developing it into the Black Rock Arts Center, a multicultural center that will be the home of five culturally diverse Resident Arts organizations. This centrally located facility is anticipated to become a major center for culturally diverse art and art education programs.

Current programs include Summer Institute, Korean Performing Arts On Tour, Artist-In-Residence, Sounds of the World (SOW), and Summer Sounds of the World (SSOW) and Our Piece of the Pie.