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HOUSTON, July 26, 2023 — Asia Society Texas welcomed more than 2,500 guests to enjoy the Center's new permanent Explore Asia exhibition over a three-day Grand Opening Weekend. Highlighting five Asian countries across six unique experiences, Explore Asia is the only interactive learning exhibition in Texas focused specifically on Asia.

The weekend's festivities included free admission, food trucks, and all-ages activities and storytimes related to the five countries highlighted in the exhibition, and each day opened with a lively lion dance performance. With Explore Asia stations and additional activities spread throughout the Center, guests explored the entire building to enjoy the exhibition's six experiences, including sold-out sessions for the Performances Across Asia Drumming Experience.

Local community organizations and partners included Houston Public Library, Lee's Golden Dragon Lion and Dragon Dance Association, Soaring Phoenix Dragon and Lion Dance Association, Sweets Kendamas Foundation, and Unity Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe. Food trucks Coffee-Q and Foreign Policy Food Truck, alongside Java Lava Cafe, were onsite to provide food for hungry visitors.

Free admission for the weekend was made possible by The Ling and George Yang Family. The Explore Asia exhibition is open during Asia Society Texas' public hours (Wednesday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.); admission information can be found on the exhibition's page.

View more photos on Flickr.

Press Coverage

You can ‘Explore Asia’ with a new exhibit debuting in Houston, CW29, July 6, 2023.
Don't Miss Out on the Grand Opening of the 'Explore Asia' Exhibition Coming to the Asia Society Texas This July!, Houston on the Cheap, July 8, 2023.
Join Asia Society Texas for the free grand opening of ‘Explore Asia’, 365 Things to Do in Houston, July 12, 2023.
Wanna ride a bullet train? You can (virtually) in Houston this weekend, ABC 13, July 18, 2023.
Interactive exhibits offer a way to ‘Explore Asia’ without leaving Houston, Houston Matters, Houston Public Media, July 19, 2023.
Experience Asian Culture during the Grand Opening of ‘Explore Asia’ at Asia Society Texas, Houston Life, KPRC, July 19, 2023.
Explore 5 different Asian countries without leaving Houston, KPRC, July 20, 2023.
Immersive $4.6M 'Explore Asia' exhibition opens this weekend in Houston's Museum District, Houston Chronicle, July 21, 2023.
體驗虛擬子彈列車 休城新互動展探索亞洲5國, World Journal, July 22, 2023.
Asia Society’s New Interactive Exhibit Is Unlike Anything Else, Houstonia, July 26, 2023.

About Explore Asia

Highlighting five Asian countries across six unique experiences, Explore Asia is the only interactive learning exhibition in Texas focused specifically on Asia. The educational exhibition — informed by several years of research and in consultation with an extensive group of scholars and community partners — is designed to spark curiosity and highlight the interconnectedness between the peoples of Asia, Houston, and the United States, building upon Asia Society Texas' belief in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.

Foundational gifts for Asia Society Texas’ Education Project come from E. Rudge and Nancy Allen Family, Anne and Albert Chao, The Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation, and Durga D. and Sushila Agrawal Family. Major support provided by Chinhui Juhn and Edward R. Allen III, American First National Bank, The Brown Foundation, Inc., The Cullen Foundation, The Elkins Foundation, The Fondren Foundation, The Freeman Foundation, H-E-B, Hugesen Polymers Inc., Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation, The Wu and Tsai Family, and Dr. Asha and Farid Virani.

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.