PEABODY PLACE MUSEUM AND AIA PARTNER FOR LOCAL SCHOOL PAGODA DESIGN COMPETITION

Memphis, TN (October 13, 2003) - Peabody Place Museum and the Memphis chapter of American Institute of Architects (AIA) have partnered to sponsor and host a Pagoda Design Competition for children in Memphis-area (Shelby County) public and private school art classes.

"We're proud to work with AIA on such an exciting and rewarding project," said Jack Belz, founder of Peabody Place Museum. "The Museum is a wonderful venue to showcase the talent of our city's children and to celebrate Chinese art. We hope this experience will inspire youth to explore art and architecture more thoroughly."

Architect-advisors will be assigned by AIA's Education Committee to participating school art classes and will be available for at least three classroom visits during the fall. Each advisor will assist an art teacher and his/her students with designing and building their pagoda project. Projects are due by November 7, 2003 for judging. Winning projects will be on display at Peabody Place Museum from November 25 through December 29, 2003.

Located on the concourse level of the Pembroke Square Building in downtown Memphis, Peabody Place Museum is the region's only museum dedicated to Chinese art. The Museum, which opened on October 15, 1998, was established as a foundation. The collection was created through the donation of pieces of art from Jack and Marilyn Belz, who began collecting Chinese art in 1968.

The Museum is home to one of the largest collections in the country of 19^th century Chinese art. The permanent exhibit at the Museum includes objects created for Chinese nobility during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The collection includes intricately carved jade sculptures, beautifully crafted enamelware pieces and rare objects carved in ivory. The Museum also has smaller collections of fossils and minerals, contemporary European art glass, Russian lacquer boxes, Judaic art and more.

Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4.50 for seniors and $4 for students. For information on special group rates, guided tours, educational programs, teachers' packets and special event room rental, please contact the Museum at (901) 523-ARTS, or please visit www.belz.com .