May 18: Free Admission at All Asia Society Locations for Museum Day
Asia Society will offer complimentary museum admission at its New York, Hong Kong and Texas centers this Friday, May 18, for International Museum Day, marking its participation in the worldwide event with a transcontinental celebration at all three Asia Society physical locations.
Visitors to the New York center can take in the stunning large-scale ink paintings of Wu Guanzhong, the Chinese modern master and contemporary auction star, in his first major U.S. retrospective. The museum will be open later than normal — 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. — with guided museum tours at 7 and 7:30 p.m. While you're there, swing by the Leo Bar, which will be open from 6-9 p.m. and offers happy hour prices for the first hour. You can also experience one of the oldest and most influential forms of Chinese Opera in a special evening performance by the Shanghai Kunqu Opera troupe — get tickets here.
In Hong Kong, museum goers have a well-timed opportunity to see the center’s inaugural exhibition, Transforming Minds: Buddhism in Art — which just extended its run due to popular demand. The first 300 gallery visitors will receive special edition Asia Society pins, and free docent tours will be available in English at 11:30 a.m. and in Cantonese at 2:30 p.m.
At Asia Society Texas, Houstonians can explore Contemporary Asian Art: Texas Connections and Lee Ufan’s site-specific sculpture Relatum – signal before entering Treasures of Asian Art: A Rockefeller Legacy in the Louisa Stude Sarofim Gallery. Soups, salads, sandwiches, and sweets will be served in the newly opened Jade Stone Café at Asia Society from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Get a sneak peek of what you’ll see at all three museums in the slideshow above.
International Museum Day, celebrated by the worldwide museum community since 1977, has steadily gained momentum with a record-breaking 30,000 museums playing host to events last year. Take part in the global celebration this Friday, May 18 by visiting a museum — or a few — near you!
Plan your Museum Day visit to Asia Society New York or Hong Kong or Texas.