Mission: To serve as a bridge between the cultures of East and West, encourage an understanding between these cultures, and provide programs for the state's growing Asian-American community to help preserve its cultural heritage and pride in tradition. The center highlights Asian arts and culture through its permanent collection, exhibitions, performances and educational programs. Started in 1971 when Frank Roberts donated a collection of Chinese and Japanese ivory carvings to the university, the center is the only campus-based organization for the presentation and preservation of Asian arts in Maryland.
Latest accomplishment: In September, members of the 360-year old Youkiza Marionette Theatre Company, the oldest of its kind in Japan, performed at the center as part of its first U.S. tour. In October, the center presented the Baltimore premiere of the In-Young Sohn Dance Company of New York, along with musicians from the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts in Seoul.
On the horizon: In the spring, the center features two exhibitions of traditional and contemporary arts of Korea and China, a film series on Japanese theater, and a lecture, "Feng Shui: The Art of Placement," by Professor Lin Yun, a master of Feng Shui and founder of modern Black Sect Buddhism.
About the AACC: Membership: 225. Attendance: 7,000 annually. Operating budget: $90,000.
Where and when: Towson University Center for the Arts, 8000 York Road. Gallery hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, and during exhibitions 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Call 410-830-2807.
Dr. Gilbert Brungardt, president of the AACC's advisory board: "A number of writers have referred to the arts and cultures of various civilizations as mirrors that reflect the way the people of those civilizations think, and ... I believe that is true. We expect to continue providing such a mirror to our community."
Members of the advisory board
Mahnoosh Alemi
Priscilla Caasi
Calvin Chin
Kitty Chin
Stella Cho
Bud Cornell
Lu Beth Cornell
Sandy Esslinger
Hung-Gay Fung
James Furukawa
Emi Furukawa
In Sook Kang
S. Jim Kim
Mien Kioune
Ginger Lai
Ock-Kyung Lee
Anthony Montcalmo
Wayne McWilliams
Janene Oettel
Stanley Pollack
Bina Raval
Young Hee Shin
Tzu-Ming Yang
Yue-Cheng Yang
Yue-Lin Yang