The Asian Hall of Fame’s professional programming and tech hub will continue to advance its Research Institute, the Asian and Native Women Impact Fund, and the Trauma Advocacy Initiative. Charity events support scholarships for Orange County Music & Dance, providing tuition assistance to 40% of its students.
Douglas Freeman, the Executive Chair and CEO of Orange County Music & Dance, remarked, “The collaboration with Asian Hall of Fame will significantly enhance our ability to empower students from all backgrounds, regardless of their financial situations, to pursue their passions, explore their creativity, and achieve their dreams.”
Orange County Music & Dance, a pre-professional and community arts school, serves nearly 300 students, including disadvantaged children, underserved adults, and veterans. The school is a Steinway Select School, a partner of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation, and has been named an Outstanding Arts Organization of 2024 by Arts Orange County.
Maki Hsieh, President and CEO of the Asian Hall of Fame and a Grammy Voting Member, highlighted the organization’s mission: “Asian Hall of Fame is dedicated to enhancing Irvine Great Park with a destination experience that supports Orange County Music & Dance and ensures equitable access to excellence for generations to come.”
The new 15,000-square-foot, 800-seat venue, with an estimated cost of $15 million, will receive $8 million in funding from the Asian Hall of Fame. Upon its completion, the Asian Hall of Fame Performing Arts Center will be the first Asian and Indigenous Performing Arts Center in the United States.