It was five years in the making, but it’s now ready. The Wing Luke Asian Museum’s opens its doors to a new expanded home at 719 South King St. in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. From its new 60,000-square-foot home, the Wing Luke Asian Museum will expand its role as an economic and community resource for a distinctly diverse neighborhood, as one of Seattle’s historic and creative treasures, and as a cultural institution of national significance. Featuring: Honoring Our Journey, Community Portrait Galleries, Special Exhibition Gallery, George Tsutakawa Art Gallery, East and West Lightwells, Historic Immersion Exhibits, Tateuchi Story Theatre, Governor Gary Locke Library and Community Heritage Center, KidPLACE, Frank Fujii Youth Space, Learning Studios, The Marketplace, Community Hall, and much more. The event is free and open to the public. Timed tickets will be issued the day of celebration.

A national model for community-based exhibition process, upcoming special exhibits include the Native Hawaiian Community in the Pacific Northwest (Special Exhibition Gallery, October 2008); Voter Registration (New Dialogue Initiative, August 2008); Dance (KidPLACE, August 2008), and Mixed Race/Ethnicity (Community Portrait Gallery, September 2008). The “George Tsutakawa: The Making of a Fountain,” an exhibition featuring the fountains, paintings, models, and sculptures of the pioneer artist, will be on display in the art gallery bearing his name when the museum opens.

Community Grand Opening

Saturday, May 31, 2008 — 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Ribbon cutting and multicultural drumming performance at 10 a.m.

Sunday, June 1, 2008 — 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Cultural ceremony and lion and dragon dances at 11:30 a.m.

Watch the Wing Luke Asian Museum campaign video