New American Arts Festival

Join us August 1st for the 12th Annual New American Arts Festival in the Benson Creative District!

✨ THE 12TH ANNUAL NEW AMERICAN ARTS FESTIVAL IS COMING!
🗓️ First Friday, August 1 | 📍 Benson Creative District

We’re goin' swimmin' this July First Friday — so start planning for August now!

🎉 The New American Arts Festival returns with bold art, live music, and global flavors — spotlighting the stories and talents of Omaha’s immigrant, migrant, and refugee communities. 🎨🎶🌍

🎨 August's First Friday poster by the one and only Sedra D’Mente @sedra.d.mente

🖼️ Posters sponsored by our creative partners at @blick_omaha

🌟 NAAF is made possible thanks to support from soundarte.net and CIRA: Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement

🫶 Want to support nights like this all year long? Become a Friend of BFF at bffomaha.org/friend

👏 Shoutout to our monthly First Friday sponsors:
🌟 Mutual of Omaha @mutualofomaha
🌟 Ted and Wally's @tedandwallys
🌟 Union Pacific @uprr
🌟 Park Omaha

🔴⚪🔵 Friend of BFF Business Members:
🔴 ASL Interpreting Services • ⚪ Blueline Coffee • 🔵 Central Skate Shop • 🔴 Dahlia House • ⚪ Gregg Grossman, Inc. • 🔵 Heather Tedesco, Realtor • 🔴 Jake’s Cigars • ⚪ Maven Social • 🔵 MCC • 🔴 Ming Toy Gallery • ⚪ Nebraska AIDS Project • 🔵 Omaha Roller Derby • 🔴 RAIL + STEAM • ⚪ SET the Bar • 🔵 Shaheen’s Afghan Cuisine • 🔴 Shipment Vintage • ⚪ Slowdown • 🔵 Snowy Sundaes • 🔴 Star Deli • ⚪ StudioDaze Omaha • 🔵 Taco Co. • 🔴 The Garage • ⚪ The Sydney • 🔵 The Bay

🎨 Want to design an upcoming First Friday poster? Apply now at bffomaha.org/poster

📍 Get the full festival lineup and event details at bffomaha.org/events

#NewAmericanArts #BensonFirstFriday #NAAF2025 #OmahaArts

🚨 PETSHOP UNLEASHED VOL. 3
🎉 Part of the 12th Annual New American Arts Festival
🗓️ Friday, August 1 | 📍 Backlot of Petshop (2725 N. 62nd St)

We’re throwing it down backlot-style for PETSHOP: UNLEASHED VOL. 3: New American Arts Festival! We're celebrating artists of local immigrant, migrant, and refugee communities! 🎤🎨🛍️

🔥 Backlot Performances Include:
• Los Estereotipos
• Loss Benky’s
• Sapphire
• Sanjana Jayanti
• AIFS Youth Drumming Circle

🎨 Inside and out, Petshop is packed with visual art — featuring work by Jun Chen and the massive community-built Madonnari Mural right out front!

Plus, don’t miss gallery exhibitions across the district, and vendors like Hani Hani, Umucu Wacu, D'Colores Art Bus, and more! 🌟🛍️

Join us First Friday August 1st for the 12th Annual New American Arts Festival!

#PetshopUnleashed #NewAmericanArts #NAAF2025 #OmahaArts

🎨 Madonnari Mural Workshop
🗓️ Thursday, July 24
🕔 5:00–7:30 PM
📍 Outside Petshop & MAMO Galleries (2725 N. 62nd St - Benson Creative District)

Join us as we kick off preparations for the New American Arts Festival with our second annual Madonnari Mural Workshop — a free, family-friendly, hands-on chalk art experience!

This year’s mural is growing in both scale and impact, and we’re inviting the community to help shape it alongside Omaha’s immigrant and refugee communities. 🌍

👨👩👧 Who can participate?
Adults, teens, and children accompanied by a participating adult.

🖌️ What to expect:
• Collaborative outdoor mural-making on pavement
• Opportunity to express creativity and connect with community
• Comfortable clothing recommended
• Please bring a towel or cushion to kneel or sit on (a limited number of kneeling pads will be available)

💸 Pay what you can – all are welcome
🙌 Volunteers welcome too!

💬 Important: By participating in this workshop, you are also committing to help with the completion of the main mural during the festival on Friday, August 1. This is a collective effort, and your presence matters!

Learn more about the New American Arts Festival at bffomaha.org/naaf

🌎✨ CELEBRATE CULTURE. AMPLIFY VOICES. MAKE ART. ✨🌎

Calling all immigrant, migrant, and refugee artists and community partners!

The 12th Annual New American Arts Festival returns to the Benson Creative District on August 1, 2025, bringing together immigrant, migrant, and refugee artists, performers, and creatives for a celebration of unity and culture.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR:
🟥 Exhibiting & Live Visual Artists
🟧 Performing Artists & Musicians
🟨 Art Educators (Workshops & Youth Programs)
🟩 Muralists & Large-Scale Artists
🟦 Youth Artists & Activity Leaders
🟪 Food Vendors & Artisan Market Vendors
Community Partners & Organizations
Volunteers & More!

📆 Application deadline: June 9, 2025


📩 Selected artists will be notified by July.

🤝 LET’S MAKE A REAL IMPACT

For 12 years, 12 years, the New American Arts Festival has celebrated the immigrant, migrant, and refugee communities of Omaha. We couldn’t have done it without your support! Let’s keep that energy going and give more artists more opportunities!

Your support directly funds:
🎭 50+ immigrant and refugee artists
🎨 Free workshops and cultural experiences
📍 A community where ALL are welcome!

💡 At past festivals, artists have made enough from sales to pay for citizenship applications, launch creative businesses, and build lasting careers.

WOW! Let’s celebrate that!

📩 Ready to change the world? Email info@bffomaha.org

📆 Save the date: August 1, 2025.

✨ CALLING ALL IMMIGRANT, MIGRANT, & REFUGEE ARTISTS! ✨

The 12th Annual New American Arts Festival returns to the Benson Creative District on August 1, 2025—and we want YOU to be part of it! This festival uplifts and celebrates the voices, talents, and cultures of Omaha’s immigrant, migrant, and refugee communities through art, music, performance, and more.

🌟 We are seeking:
🎨 Visual Artists (Exhibiting & Live Art)
🎶 Performing Artists & Musicians
🖍️ Art Educators (Workshops & Youth)
🧒 Youth Activities & Youth Artists
🎭 Muralists & Creators
🍛 Food Vendors
🤝 Community Partners & Volunteers

💰 All artist participants will be compensated!

📅 Deadline to apply: June 9, 2025
✅ Selected artists will be notified in July.

👉 Apply now! https://forms.gle/uov4ohN4XUvzSDyn6

For questions, reach out to Sener at sener@soundarte.net.

🔸 The 11th Annual New American Arts Festival 🔸

August 2nd
6 - 10PM
Benson Creative District

Join Lutheran Family Services, Heartland Family Service, and BFF Omaha on #FirstFriday August 2nd for the 11th Annual New American Arts Festival in the Benson Creative District! NAAF celebrates the immigrant, migrant, and refugee communities of the greater Omaha area.

The 11th Annual NAAF features:

🔸Performances on the BFF NAAF Stage

  • 6:00 - Sapphire, Egyptian Belly Dance (Saharan Divas)

  • 6:45 - Adanu Heartland Ensemble 

  • 7:30 - Raga Tala, Indian Classical Dance

  • 8:00 - Omkara Band

🔹Madonnari Street Mural Workshop w/ Rosa Nelson and Oria Simonini
🔸Letters to Home Postcard Writing Workshop 
🔹Featured Openings:

  • Have We Met Before? // Mimi Yu at Petshop Gallery

  • LIFTOACH // Santi Moral-Amaral at BFF Gallery

  • ВЪ - VY at Star Deli Gallery

🔸Featured Artists: Kendra Limon at Jakes, Angelica Tapia at Burke’s Pub, Jair Rodriguez at Benson Brewery
🔹African Immigrant Family Services (AIFS) Youth Drumming at Ted & Wally’s, Nyarok at the Friend of BFF Happy Hour at The Sydney, and D’Colores Art Bus
🔸Food Workshops w/ Jane and Hani Hani
🔹 Community Partners and so much more!

Food Workshop w/ Hani Hani

African Vegetable and Chicken Stir-Fry:

  • 1 sprig of cilantro

  • 1 eggplant

  • 2 bell peppers

  • 1/2 cabbage

  • 1/2 lettuce

  • 2 yuca

  • 1/2 lb okra

  • 1 full chicken in pieces

  • 2 onions

  • 1 can tomato paste

  • 4 cloves of garlic

  • 4 carrots

  • Spices to taste: salt, pepper, sugar, etc.

African Couscous Dessert:

  • 1 pound of couscous

  • 2 cups of yogurt

  • Sugar to taste

Want to get involved?

Check out the link below for more information for artists and community partners. 

New American Arts Festival Highlights

2021 Featured Performers

2021 Featured Artisans

2021 Gallery Artists

Scheduled gallery exhibitions are subject to change.

Virgilio Rodriguez Showcased at Petshop

Pratik Rayamajhi & Nele Sudar featured at Citylight Arts Project

Siddig Babiker Showing at Benson Art Gallery

Past Workshops: At-Home Cooking Demonstrations

In an effort towards increased accessibility, these workshops are now video-recorded and available for enjoyment at any time! If you enjoy the demonstrations and the food, please consider making a donation! All proceeds will go towards our talented chefs and future New American Arts Festivals! (Suggested Donation $10)

SPRING ROLLS W/ CHILI SAUCE w/ Paw TaMwee Htoo

Join us for our 2021 New American Arts Festival culinary workshop series and learn how to make spring rolls and spicy chili sauce! This delicious recipe can be prepared as a meat or vegetarian option and the sauce can lean spicy or sweet, depending on preferences of family and friends.

Ingredients For Spring Rolls

  • Fish sauce

  • Black or white pepper

  • Wraps

  • Carrots

  • Glass Noodles (sometimes called cellophane noodles)

  • Protein (chicken, tofu, beef)

  • Mushrooms

  • *optional – oyster sauce 

Ingredients For Chili Sauce

  • Chili peppers

  • Peanuts

  • Garlic

  • Sugar

  • Salt

  • Cilantro

  • Lemon

About the Chef

Paw TaMwee Htoo was born in the Mae La refugee camp in Thailand and came to the United States with her family in 2016. While a student at Benson High School, Paw Ta participated in

Joslyn Art Museum’s Fashion Arts Mentor Program at Yates and won the 2018 Omaha Fashion Week Student Night Award. Paw Ta graduated from Benson in 2019 and received a Buffett Scholarship to attend the University of Nebraska – Omaha. This past spring, Paw Ta was accepted into the Grace Abbott School of Social Work where she will begin her third year of college this fall. In the future, Paw Ta hopes to continue with her education and obtain a master’s degree but for now stays busy with school, helping her family, and chasing after her toddler!

SYRIAN CHICKEN KEPSA BIRYANI w/ Aisha Al Saleh

Join us for our 2021 New American Arts Festival culinary workshop series and learn how to make Chicken Kepsa Biryani, a flavorful meat and rice dish that puts all sorts of spices to work! This is a dish you’ll want to make again and again for evening gatherings with family and friends. Switch it up and offer a vegetarian option by substituting firm tofu and you’ll have a filling, delicious meal for everyone!

Ingredients: Chicken Kepsa Biryani

  • 3 lb. chicken thighs and drums

  • 1-1.5 quarts water

  • Corn oil

  • 2 large carrots, shredded

  • 2 large onions, chopped

  • 4 Roma tomatoes, peeled and chopped

  • 6 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped 

  • 4 cups Basmati rice

  • 3.5 cups water

  • 0.5 cups clarified butter (or regular butter or oil) 

  • 4 whole cardamom pods

  • 2 teaspoons cloves

  • 3 bay leaves

  • 2.5 tablespoons black pepper

  • 3 teaspoons cinnamon

  • 3 tablespoons turmeric

  • 4 tablespoons paprika

  • 2 tablespoons ground cardamom

  • 4 teaspoons allspice

  • Cayenne pepper, to taste

  • 0.5-1 cup whole almonds

  • 2 sliced Roma tomatoes

  • Chopped fresh mint

Method

  1. Add chicken and water to cover (1-1.5 quart) to large pot. Heat to boil over medium-high flame.

  2. In a large bowl, soak 4 cups long-grain basmati rice in tap-hot water – soak for 25-30 minutes.

  3. While your chicken is cooking, clean and shred 2 large carrots, clean and chop 2 large onions, peel and chop 4 Roma tomatoes and peel and finely chop 6 cloves of garlic.

  4. Coat the bottom of a second large pot with corn oil (0.3-0.5 cups) and heat over medium flame. Add half of the chopped onions to brown.

  5. Once onions are soft (around 5 minutes cook time) add chopped garlic to oil.

  6. Skim top of boiling chicken to maintain a constant simmer.

  7. Once rice has soaked, rinse thoroughly under running water until water runs clear

  8. Add 3.5 cups of water to your veggies, 0.5 cup clarified butter (or oil), and stir

  9. Allow to come to a boil, then add rinsed rice to veggies, water and oil

  10. Simmer approximately 25 minutes.

  11. While rice is cooking, toast 0.5-1 cups almonds over the stove on medium-low heat. Stir regularly and watch the almonds to ensure they don’t get overdone (total cook time around 7-10 minutes). They should turn slightly darker brown and smell toasty.

  12. When almonds are done, transfer from the pan to a plate to cool

  13. If desired, transfer chicken from broth to oven and broil 5-10 minutes to brown skin

  14. Serve rice topped with chicken thighs and drums, toasted almonds, chopped fresh mint, and sliced tomatoes

Fresh green salad

  • 2 bunches Romaine lettuce

  • 2 bunches parsley

  • 2 lemons

  • 1 white onion

  • 3 tomatoes

  • 1 heaping tablespoon salt

  • 0.5-1 cup olive oil

Method

  1. Finely chop Romaine lettuce, chop tomatoes and dice small white onion

  2. Combine veggies, add juice of two lemons

  3. Add oil and salt, toss salad and adjust with more lemon juice or olive oil if desired.

About the Chef

Aisha Al Saleh was born in Syria and worked as a chef for many years. Due to political instability, Aisha and her family were forced leave Syria and in 2016 they made their way to Omaha. Since arriving in the United States, Aisha has used her enterprising spirit to continue her love of cooking, sharing the traditional flavors of her home country through various endeavors and community partnerships. Aisha has collaborated with BFF, Joslyn Art Museum, Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, and Northeast Community College. Most recently, Aisha and her family started their own food truck, Zaytuna, that specializes in Middle Eastern Cuisine. Follow Zaytuna Food Truck on Facebook to learn more about their menu, hours, and location!

Thank You to our NAAF Sponsors!