  The usual Galilean contraction procedure for generating new conformal
symmetry algebras takes as input a number of symmetry algebras which are
equivalent up to central charge. We demonstrate that the equivalence condition
can be relaxed by inhomogeneously contracting the chiral algebras and present
general results for the ensuing asymmetric Galilean algebras. Several examples
relevant to conformal field theory are discussed in detail, including
superconformal algebras and W-algebras. We also discuss how the Sugawara
construction is modified in the asymmetric setting.
