The Martial Arts History Museum Launches its $5 to $5 Million Fundraiser

(NewMediaWire) - February 19, 2023 - Burbank, CA – The Martial Arts History Museum, now topping the list of places to visit in Burbank in the number two spot, just behind the Warner Bros. Tours, has launched an aggressive fundraising effort this week entitled “$5 to $5 Million,” to raise funds to expand the museum.

The $5 Million campaign, is a one-year effort to raise the amount needed to relocate the museum into a larger facility and make it more accessible to the public.

The museum has been operational since 1999 and currently resides in a 2,000-square-foot building located near the corner of Magnolia and Buena Vista. It is the only museum of its kind in the world and home of the martial arts worldwide. But the museum is more than martial arts, it is an exploration of Asian artistry, Asian music, Asian tradition, and Asian culture.

The exhibits in the museum feature Asian cultural items including Chinese lion dancing, Japanese samurai, Hawaiian Lua, Thailand drums, shark-teeth weapons, Chinese opera, and Thailand artistry. The museum also explores anime history and martial arts in film and television with artifacts from The Karate Kid, Big Trouble in Little China, etc.

“The museum is about the positive contributions of the Asian American community and their impact on Western society,” says museum president Michael Matsuda. “We are about art and culture as it connects to the martial arts.”

Perhaps the biggest reason for the relocation is to create a facility large enough to house regular tours from the Unified School District. A field trip bus, according to a spokesperson from the district, requires about 90 kids to access a bus. Unfortunately, the museum is not larger enough to accommodate that volume. “We can do 30 kids at a time for a tour, so, we are not able to bring in the tours like the other museums. This is a great place for kids to learn about other cultures and people. But, we need to raise the funds to get us there and this is what this campaign is all about,” adds Matsuda.

The relocation plans for the museum include a 15 to 20,000-square-foot facility that would house a 250 to a 300-seat theater that would allow for musical performances, cultural dancing, movie screenings, film festivals, and movie premieres.

Further plans include a dine-in facility, a seminar room so that events can be held often, a resource center for schools to do research, a rotating exhibit area, and a large display section that would accommodate a multitude of schools.

“$5 million is not a huge number compared to the larger museums who raise over $50 million in a single campaign. We are not a brand-new museum, this is our 24th year. We host events, seminars, and workshops every month. We are a tourist attraction for the city and we even host our annual comic-con-style convention called Dragonfest. A transition to a new location can easily be accomplished with the funding,” says Matsuda.

The museum is asking for everyone to join in on this campaign with at least a $5 donation. Names of those donating will be listed on the museum’s website for one year. Since the museum is a non-profit 501c3, all donations are tax-deductible.

“As the only museum of its kind in the world, imagine the amount of tourism we could bring in for the city with a much larger location. With a restaurant, that’s additional funds as well and with a large museum store, that’s a bonus for the city,” says Matsuda.

“If the martial arts have benefitted you in any way. Helped you become a star, gave you confidence, helped you stand up to bullies or even if you just love museums and want to contribute, let’s come aboard our $5 to $5 Million fundraiser today,” concludes Matsuda.

To make a donation and have your name listed, visit their site at https://martialartsmuseum.com/five-million/

The museum is located at 2319 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91506. Website is MAmuseum.com, email info@mamuseum.com, or call (818) 478-1722.