PAM (Photo – pacificasiamuseum/Tom Bonner)
The USC Pacific Asia Museum has received the largest single gift in its history from East West Bank, a Pasadena-based institution chaired by USC Trustee Dominic Ng.
By News Desk
The landmark investment significantly strengthens the museum’s exhibitions program and deepens its role as a cultural gateway connecting USC, Southern California and the global arts community.
The USC Pacific Asia Museum is the first university museum in the United States dedicated to the arts and cultures of Asia and the Pacific Islands. Located in a landmark building in the heart of Pasadena, the museum engages visitors through historical and contemporary art exhibitions that reflect the region’s diverse cultures and artistic traditions.
USC Interim President Beong-Soo Kim praised the partnership, noting the shared values between the university and the bank. “The arts have always been a core part of USC’s mission to enrich the human mind and spirit,” Kim said. “East West Bank shares our commitment to build understanding, encourage dialogue, and connect our global community through art. We are deeply grateful for their generous support of the USC Pacific Asia Museum.”
Founded more than 20 years ago, East West Bank’s art program was created to foster cultural connections by bridging East and West. In addition to maintaining its own collection, the bank has supported numerous major cultural institutions, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Broad, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, The Huntington, the Asian Art Museum, the Bowers Museum and now the USC Pacific Asia Museum.
“Art is a universal language that speaks to us across time and place and illuminates our shared human experience,” said Dominic Ng, chairman and CEO of East West Bank. “East West Bank’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that art has the power to build bridges, connecting cultures, communities and generations while fostering dialogue, understanding and appreciation. We are proud to support institutions like USC and USC PAM that share this mission.”
As part of the investment, East West Bank will serve as the lead sponsor of all USC Pacific Asia Museum exhibitions for the next two decades. The bank will also underwrite free museum admission during the week of Lunar New Year, throughout Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and on the opening and closing weekends of all exhibitions presented in the newly named East West Bank Exhibition Hall.
Ng, a longtime benefactor of the museum, joined USC Interim President Beong-Soo Kim at a 2025 celebration held in what is now known as the East West Bank Courtyard, underscoring the enduring partnership between the university, the museum and a bank committed to bridging worlds, communities and people through the arts.
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