On Tuesday, August 19th, the Minister of Foreign Affairs announced that Mrs. Nancy Allen, Board Member of Asia Society Texas Center, is the recipient of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Commendations. Mrs. Allen was presented this award in recognition of her esteemed service in the promotion of the mutual understanding between Japan and the United States of America. She becomes one the 155 recipients awarded this prestigious honor by the Government of Japan.
Mrs. Allen has a long history as a community leader in promoting arts in Houston and has served as a board of director and/or committee member at numerous cultural organizations including the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Menil Collection, Orange Show Foundation Board and others. She has also received awards and recognition from many organizations including being named the 27th Carroll Sterling Masterson YWCA Woman of the Year and the official honoree of the 2013 Japan America Society of Houston Gala.
Mrs. Allen has also been an advocate of friendship between Japan and the United States through her involvement as a Board of Director for Asia Society Texas Center. As Chair of the Architectural Selection Committee and the Asia Society Building Committee, she was chiefly responsible for bringing Mr. Yoshio Taniguchi to Houston and securing his role as designer of the new Asia Society Texas Center building in the Houston Museum District. Mr. Taniguchi is a Japanese architect most recently known for his work designing the new building of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Due to her hard work and philanthropy including her personal contributions, 48.4 million dollars was raised to fund the new Asia Society building. Since its opening in April 2012, more than 50,000 people have visited and have had the opportunity to understand the art of Japanese architecture. Her endeavors led to an appearance on the cover of Houston Woman Magazine plus an article published in the April 2012 issue.
Mrs. Allen has profoundly encouraged the expansion of Asian art and as Chair of the Development Committee for Asia Society, she has been chiefly responsible for raising all funding needed to present innovating public programs that foster an appreciation of Asian culture and art. Japan and Japanese artists and experts on Japan have figured prominently in Asia Society’s public programs. |
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