The Optics Valley Library and the Optics Valley Art Museum in Wuhan, Hubei province, began their trial operations on July 18, marking them as new cultural landmarks in the area.
The Optics Valley Library spans 16,200 square meters and is designed to hold 240,000 books with over 1,300 reading seats. It focuses on supporting technological innovation, industrial development, youth growth, and promoting reading nationwide. The library aims to be a national leader in youth and technology industry libraries.
The Optics Valley Art Museum covers 15,000 square meters and includes eight exhibition halls. It plans to host provincial and national exhibitions annually, making high-end art accessible to the public.
On the same day, the China National Academy of Painting Optics Valley Exhibition Hall opened in the museum. This is the fourth specialized exhibition hall of the academy in China, following locations in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Zunyi in Guizhou province, and Huzhou in Zhejiang province. It will both feature national art masterpieces and explore local art and cultural heritage in Hubei.
During the trial period, the library and the museum launched cultural activities, including national-level exhibitions like Masters' Biographies: National Art Invitational Exhibition on the Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties, From The Book of Songs to Dream of the Red Chamber — Classics We Have Read Over the Years, and Colorful Childhood — A Century of Chinese Children's Books.
Optics Valley has been enhancing its public cultural facilities, culminating in the Optics Valley Cultural Center. This center includes a cultural center, a youth activity center, a senior university, and a multifunctional cultural commercial space, alongside the art museum and library.
Beijing National Library Cultural Development Ltd manages the Optics Valley Library and Art Museum. As a subsidiary of the National Library of China, it is experienced in operating public cultural venues and manages over 20 such venues across various regions in China.
