asian cultural council 2012 ANNUAL REPORT Front and back covers: A stainless steel sculpture, Uhngu-The Phoenix of the Window Railing, by Shih-Pin Hsi, a 2012 grantee from Taiwan 2012 ANNUAL REPORT 2 Board of Trustees 3 Message from the Executive Director 4 Program Overview and 2012 Grants 14 Alumni News 18 2012 Events 20 Statement of Activities 21 2012 Donors 23 Partners 24 Staff This page: Dancers Tao Ye and Duan Ni of TAO Dance Theater performing at the 2012 Lincoln Center Festival BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICERS TRUSTEES Wendy O’Neill Pauline R. Yu Hope Aldrich Lynne Rutkin Chairman Secretary Jane DeBevoise William G. Spears John H. Foster Yuji Tsutsumi Valerie Rockefeller Jonathan Fanton Kenneth H.C. Fung Wayne Treasurer Curtis Greer LIFE TRUSTEES Vice Chairman Elizabeth J. David Halpert Colin G. Campbell Hans Michael Jebsen McCormack Douglas Tong Hsu Abby M. O’Neill Vice Chairman Chairman Emeritus J. Christopher Kojima Russell A. Phillips, Jr. Erh-fei Liu Richard S. Lanier Robert S Pirie Vincent A. Mai President Isaac Shapiro Ken Miller Michael I. Sovern Stephen B. Heintz Josie Cruz Natori Seiji Tsutsumi Vice President Carol Rattray David Rockefeller, Jr. as of June 30, 2013 Cai Guo-Qiang at the Echigo Tsumari Triennale in Japan with visual artist Ann Hamilton’s work MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN 1963, WITH GREAT FORESIGHT, CONVICTION, AND RESPECT, OUR FOUNDER JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER 3RD SET FORTH HIS VISION OF BRINGING TOGETHER ASIANS AND AMERICANS TO LEARN ABOUT AND FROM EACH OTHER. He believed that meaningful cultural 26 years of passionate and skillful The global landscape has exchange would not only enrich leadership as director of ACC’s changed greatly since JDR 3rd first the lives of individuals, but it would Hong Kong office. envisioned the purpose of ACC. foster international cooperation and While our peaceful future remains mutual understanding, securing a At the conclusion of this year of threatened by conflict and crisis, gentler world for future generations. transitions, we take this moment to we now live with faster and greater salute and thank these extraordinary access to information, accelerated Over the last fifty years, ACC has individuals, and ACC’s inspiring past technological innovation, shifts in grown from a small, private, family- leaders, Trustees, staff, donors, and the global economy, and the wider operated program based in New partners, whose commitment and use of sustainable resources. Much York City to a public non-profit tireless work have made ACC what of the world has caught up with foundation with headquarters in it is today. and embraced JDR 3rd’s vision of New York and representation and connectedness, and many regard support committees in Tokyo, Hong As we prepared to celebrate cross-cultural travel and exploration Kong, Taipei, and Manila. This was in 50 years of ACC’s unparalleled as an essential part of life. However, large part due to the artful guidance programs and extraordinary it is the way in which ACC not only and dedicated service of Elizabeth grantees, the year 2012 also gave facilitates but curates meaningful McCormack, who − following us a chance to consider future connections among cultural chairmen John D. Rockefeller 3rd opportunities. Today, ACC’s vast influencers and great thinkers that and Blanchette H. Rockefeller − network of grantees is made up of sets our work apart. Never before served as chairman of ACC for 22 cultural leaders who represent more in the modern era has Asia played a years. In May of 2012, Elizabeth than 17 different artistic disciplines, greater role in global affairs, and the was elected chairman emeritus from over 25 countries around the importance of ACC’s work has thus and, to continue her legacy, Wendy world. ACC alumni continue to never been greater. O’Neill, widely respected for her create innovative work, educate expertise and experience in Asia and future generations, restore great We hope you will enjoy reading a great-niece of John D. Rockefeller art handed down through the about ACC’s activities in 2012 and 3rd, was enthusiastically elected ages, advance their fields, build will participate in the many activities as chairman. We also gratefully relationships, and transform the planned for 2013 and 2014 as we honored two exceptional women: lives of individuals and countless celebrate our 50th anniversary. Jennifer P. Goodale, who after communities every day. Their As always, we thank our many four transformative years as ACC’s achievements embolden us to do generous donors, who help make executive director stepped down more. Their stories are proof of why our ongoing work possible, and all to assume a major position in cultural exchange is important and of ACC’s wonderful grantees, who corporate philanthropy in Lausanne, why we must advocate for a deeper provide our inspiration. Switzerland, and Michelle Vosper, commitment and investment in who retired in March 2012 after bringing people together. Miho Walsh Executive Director MESSAGE FROM THE EXecUTIVE DIrecTOR 3 2012 GRANTS PROGRAM OVERVIEW he goal of ACC’s grant-making stems from a philosophy that embraces the essential power of cultural exchange to connect T peoples and promote mutual understanding. The primary TOTAL mechanism for the activity supported by ACC has been through fellowships GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS to individuals, and our grantees have become influential thinkers, artists, and specialists whose work has significantly advanced understanding between $1,333,400 the United States and Asia, and among the countries of Asia. We have also extended support to organizations, and the goal of this funding activity has always been to maximize transformative impact on the individuals participating in important projects and, ultimately, on communities. In 2012, ACC made a total of 117 grants to exceptional individuals and TOTAL GRANTS TO organizations from the United States and 11 countries in Asia. These ORGANIZATIONS grants represent a wide range of activity, from documentary filmmaking to intercultural folklore scholarship, from performance art to arts $406,500 administration—all amounting to what we hope are meaningful beginnings for even greater future work from these extraordinary grantees. BANGLADESH ASHIT MITRA Printmaker, Dhaka to United States: for a six-month grant to undertake a residency at the Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop in New York City, beginning in spring 2012. 2012 gRANTS 4 CAMBODIA WEI DAI CHANGXIN PENG Theater, Shanghai to United States: Professor of Architecture, CHANKETHYA CHEY for a six-month grant to observe Guangzhou to United States: Choreographer, Phnom Penh trends and developments in new for a five-month grant to conduct to United States: to continue in media and to research new media research on an architectural history a program of study leading to curricula in American universities. project in the United States. the M.F.A. degree in dance at the University of California, Los Angeles. NING DING HONG SHAO Professor of Art History, Beijing to Professor of Art History, VOLLACK KONG United States: to participate in the Guangzhou to United States: Visual Artist, Phnom Penh to Advanced Workshop in American to participate in the Advanced United States: for a six-month Art History, in New York City, in Workshop in American Art grant to observe contemporary August 2012. History, in New York City, in arts activities and to participate in August 2012. a four-month creative residency HAIBIN DU program at the Lower Manhattan Filmmaker, Beijing to United States: YIYANG SHAO Cultural Council, beginning for a six-month grant to meet Professor of Art History, Beijing to March 2013. with documentary filmmakers and United States: to participate in the to conduct research for his first Advanced Workshop in American SEREYPAGNA PEN feature film. Art History, in New York City, in Architect, Phnom Penh to August 2012. United States: to study architecture SHI JIN and architectural history, and to Professor of Sculpture, Hangzhou JIANPING SHEN undertake an internship at Steven to Taiwan: for a two-month grant Professor of Art History, Hangzhou Harris Architects in New York City, to observe contemporary trends in to United States: to participate in summer 2012. the arts in Taiwan. in the Advanced Workshop in American Art History, in New York CHINA CAI LI City, in August 2012. Professor of Art History, Hangzhou ANYING CHEN to United States: to participate CHUNCHEN WANG Professor of Art History, Beijing to in the Advanced Workshop in Professor of Curatorial Research, United States: to participate in the American Art History, in Beijing to United States: to participate Advanced Workshop in American New York City, in August 2012. in the Advanced Workshop in Art History, in New York City, in American Art History, in New York August 2012. PING LIU City, in August 2012. Art Historian, Beijing to United PING CHEN States: to participate in the HONGYUAN WANG Professor of Art History, Shanghai Advanced Workshop in American Professor of Art History, Beijing to to United States: to participate Art History, in New York City, in United States: to participate in the in the Advanced Workshop in August 2012. Advanced Workshop in American American Art History, in New York Art History, in New York City, in City, in August 2012. YAOCHANG PAN August 2012. Professor of Art History, Shanghai to United States: to participate in the Advanced Workshop in American Art History, in New York City, in August 2012. 2012 gRANTS 5 YOUBO ZHUANG Professor of Architecture, Beijing to United States: to attend the Special Program for Urban and Regional Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. HONG KONG TING YUEN TIMOTHY CHAN Bassoonist, Hong Kong to United States: for a ten-week grant to participate in the Aspen Music Festival and School. CHI YUEN BOBBY CHENG Oboist, Hong Kong to United States: for a ten-week grant to participate in the Aspen Music Festival and School.