Friday, June 3, 2011

Freer and Sackler Galleries Receive Largest Gift Ever for Iranian Programs

Jahangir Amuzegar Endowments for Nowruz Celebrations and Iranian Arts

The Smithsonian's Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in Washington, DC, have received what they described the largest gift ever for their Iranian programs in the history of the galleries. The donor, Jahangir Amuzegar, has established two endowments: the Jahangir and Eleanor Amuzegar Persian Cultural Celebrations Fund, which will support an annual celebration in honor of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, and the Jahangir and Eleanor Amuzegar Fund for Contemporary Iranian Art.

"My interest in establishing the endowments follows from the hope and trust that the Nowruz festivals should be celebrated for years to come and that the Galleries will have the ability to host contemporary Iranian art at the museum as far in the future as I can see," said Amuzegar. 



Dr. Amuzegar is an economist who has served as ministers of commerce and finance and the ambassador-at-large for economic affairs in the previous regime in Iran. He has also served on the Executive Board of the IMF and written numerous books and articles on Iran's economy, politics, and oil industry. Amuzegar earned his Ph.D. in economics from UCLA (although this is problematic, at least for this blogger and SC graduate) and has taught economics for many years.

1 comment:

Paul said...

And may we ask how did the Amuzegars make so much money that they can afford to do this now?