The Art Palace of Georgia, with active participation by the Royal Asiatic Society of Georgia, celebrated the 150th anniversary of Julius Straume, the renown Latvian public figure and one of the first orientalists in Georgia who studied textile graphics and weaving traditions among the people of the Caucasus. The celebration included the opening of an exhibition, publication of a catalogue and the unveiling of a bust of Straume in Museum Square in front of the Julius Straume building (see featured image at head of page). The event, hosted by Prof Giorgi Kalandia, General Director of the Art Palace of Georgia Museum of Cultural History and President of Royal Asiatic Society of Georgia, was attended by Ms. Thea Tsulukiani, Minister of Culture and Sport of Georgia, Ms. Hadas Ester Meitzad, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Israel to Georgia, and Mrs Edīte Medne, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to Georgia, among other guests.