New 800-Seat Venue at Irvine Great Park Set to Open in 2026, Celebrating Asian and Indigenous Heritage with World-Class Performances and Community Programs
The Asian Hall of Fame and Orange County Music & Dance have joined forces to create a cutting-edge performing arts center at Irvine Great Park. Set to open in 2026, this new facility will be situated in one of the world’s largest municipal parks, spanning 1,300 acres. Irvine, renowned as a startup incubator, boasts the fifth-largest Asian population in America.
The Asian Hall of Fame is a cultural, educational, and research institution dedicated to enhancing the public perception of Asian and Indigenous heritage in America and globally. Every year, it inducts notable figures such as Bruce Lee and Freddie Mercury, celebrating their contributions to society.
The new concert hall will accommodate student performances and community groups in music, dance, and theatre, providing a permanent home for the Asian Hall of Fame and its diverse programming. Additionally, year-round performances will feature Grammy Award-winning artists from bands like The Doors and Chicago, who serve as Goodwill Ambassadors.
This partnership will also bolster the Asian Hall of Fame’s professional programming and technological initiatives. These include the Research Institute, Asian and Native Women Impact Fund, and Trauma Advocacy Initiative. Charity events will raise funds for scholarships, benefiting Orange County Music & Dance, which already provides tuition assistance to 40% of its students.
Douglas Freeman, Executive Chair & CEO of Orange County Music & Dance, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: “The partnership with Asian Hall of Fame will enhance our ability to support students from all backgrounds, enabling them to pursue their passions and realize their dreams.”
Orange County Music & Dance is a pre-professional and community arts school serving nearly 300 students, including disadvantaged children, underserved adults, and veterans. The school is recognized as a Steinway Select School, a partner of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation, and was named the Outstanding Arts Organization of 2024 by Arts Orange County.
Maki Hsieh, President & CEO of the Asian Hall of Fame and a Grammy Voting Member, highlighted the project’s significance: “Asian Hall of Fame is committed to making Irvine Great Park a premier destination, advancing Orange County Music & Dance, and ensuring equitable access to excellence for future generations.”
The 15,000 square feet, 800-seat venue will cost approximately $15 million, with the Asian Hall of Fame contributing $8 million. Upon its completion, the Asian Hall of Fame Performing Arts Center will be the first of its kind in the United States, dedicated to celebrating Asian and Indigenous performing arts.
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