THE PURPOSE OF EAST WEST PLAYERS, INC. (EWP) IS TO RAISE THE VISIBILITY OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE BY PRESENTING WORLD-CLASS THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS, DEVELOPING ARTISTS OF COLOR, AND PROVIDING IMPACTFUL YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS. FOUNDED IN 1965, EWP IS ONE OF THE NATION'S LONGEST-RUNNING THEATERS OF COLOR AND THE LARGEST AND OLDEST ASIAN AMERICAN THEATER COMPANY. EWP STRIVES TO ENSURE THAT ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER STORIES ARE TOLD BY WORKING TO INCREASE ACCESS, INCLUSION, AND REPRESENTATION IN THE CREATIVE ECONOMY THROUGH THE PRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THEATRICAL WORKS, A ROBUST RANGE OF PROFESSIONAL ENRICHMENT AND ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND OTHER CIVIC ACTIVITIES. IN RECOGNITION OF ITS WORK, EWP WAS DESIGNATED BY THE FORD FOUNDATION AS A NATIONAL CULTURAL TREASURE, ONE OF ONLY 20 ORGANIZATIONS TO RECEIVE THE HONOR.