Hosted by local artist Tom Cassidy at the Pi Bar and Restaurant for the opening of the 2008 Pride Art Show.

Segment One: Flaneur Productions, Featuring both local and national acts, the Heliotrope Festival is an annual three day spring event that brings underground experimental music to light. Correspondent Laura Stopyro takes us inside the Ritz Theater in Northeast Minneapolis for a glimpse of Heliotrope in its fifth year.

Also--at the Pride Art Show, Access to Art Host Tom Cassidy talks with the organizers.

Segment Two: Open Eye Figure Theatre; which was just named Best Theater for Drama by the City Pages, combines artistic forms to create an experience that is both intimate and profound. Access to Art correspondent Ashely Siebels attended two very different performances, both of which incorporate the use of puppets. Their Driveway Tour puppet shows will continue for the rest of the summer.

Also--at the Pride Art Show, Access to Art host Tom Cassidy talks with exhibiting artists.

Segment Three: The 2nd National Asian American Theater Conference, hosted by local theater companies Pangea World Theater and Mu Performing Arts, brought together Asian American artists, academics, administrators and funders from around the country. Access to Art Correspondents Laura Stopryo and Beth Peloff attended conference events at the Guthrie and Mixed Blood Theaters and talked to some of the people involved.

Also--at the Pride Art Show, Access to Art host Tom Cassidy talks to representatives from Pi Bar about their hosting of the Pride Art Show this year.