The Asian Religions & Cultures (ARC) Initiative is a unit of the Division of International, Comparative & Area Studies, in the School of Humanities and Sciences, dedicated to the development of Stanford's resources in Asian humanities.

The initiative consists of several elements, from research and curricular support to academic and public events, designed to appeal to a variety of interests both within the university and beyond. As an interdisciplinary initiative intended to strengthen the role of Asian humanities at Stanford, ARC seeks to involve as many constituencies of the university as possible, including those not specifically concerned with Asian studies. As an outreach initiative intended to foster the public appreciation and understanding of Asian religions and cultures, ARC looks beyond the university, working with groups and individuals in the community to develop programs of general interest.

Asian religions & cultures at Stanford. Religion has had a profound impact on Asia. From the popular beliefs and practices guiding daily life in Asian societies, through the ancient philosophies that have fascinated intellectuals both East and West, to the many new national and international spiritual movements arising from the postcolonial experience, religion, in all its diversity, is central to the social, cultural, and political life of Asian countries.

As an international university on the Pacific Rim, in a San Francisco Bay Area community closely connected to Asian societies, and with a large Asian and Asian-American student population, Stanford has both the opportunity and obligation to serve as a center for the study of the religions and cultures of Asia.

The university has a long tradition in, and rich resources for, the study of Asian languages, cultures, and religions. The ARC initiative seeks to build on this tradition and to strengthen and broaden the university's coverage of Asia. It aims, on the one hand, to build a more lively and coherent community of Asian humanists at Stanford and, on the other, to build bridges between that community, other elements of the university, and the general public.

Building ARC. The initiative was launched in 1999, with a startup grant from the university President's Fund. Subequent support has been provided by the School of Humanities and Sciences.

In the short time since its founding, ARC has hosted over thirty research fellows, established a new publication series, and sponsored more than one hundred events, including lectures, conferences, workshops, symposia, and performances of music, drama, and film.

These activities have been made possible through the creative input, generous support, and active participation of many groups and individuals, both on campus and in the community.

While much has been accomplished, much work remains to be done to build ARC to its full potential. Expanding the initiative's activities and ensuring its continued success will require support from many sources. For information on how you can help, see working with arc.