$190 million in philanthropic gifts to date given by Oscar L. Tang and Agnes Hsu-Tang bolsters their major impact on cultural patronage

With over $190 million in various gifts, Oscar L. Tang and Agnes Hsu-Tang, once private benefactors, have emerged as major figures in New York’s cultural philanthropy . Their series of historic donations are reshaping the city’s leading institutions.
Their latest gifts include a monumental $125 million contribution to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the largest single donation in the museum’s history, which will fund the long-awaited modern and contemporary art wing, now named the Tang Wing.
Their philanthropy extends across multiple cultural institutions.
They donated $40 million to the New York Philharmonic, the largest endowment gift in the orchestra’s history. By funding the music and artistic director chair for the 2025-26 season, they ensured the success of the Gustavo Dudamel era.
Additionally, they pledged $20 million to the New-York Historical Society to support the completion of its new Wing for American Democracy, which will open next year in time for the U.S.’s 250th anniversary.
Tang, 86, a retired financier, and Hsu-Tang, 53, an archaeologist and art historian, have long supported the arts but previously preferred to give discreetly. Tang was the first American of Asian descent to serve on the Met’s board over 30 years ago and has made significant contributions to the museum’s Asian art department, including a collection of rare Chinese paintings.
The couple’s recent philanthropic efforts mark a shift toward greater public involvement, partly driven by a desire to counter rising anti-Asian discrimination.
“We realized that we should perhaps be more open about it,” Tang said. “We earned our right to be part of this society, and we are an integral part of it.”
The $40 million gift to the New York Philharmonic, announced in 2024, will take effect in 2025.
This donation will establish the Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Music and Artistic Director Chair, coinciding with Gustavo Dudamel’s appointment as the NY Phil’s Music Director Designate.
The New York Historical Society’s Tang Wing American Democracy, to which the Tangs donated $20 million, will open in 2026.
As of January 28, 2025, the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced that it had raised $550 million in private donations for the Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing, which includes their initial $125 million gift.
The couple’s background reflects a deep connection to art and history. Tang, born in Shanghai, was sent to the U.S. at age 11 after his family fled to Hong Kong during the Communist revolution. He attended elite schools, including Phillips Academy, Yale, and Harvard Business School, and later co-founded the asset management firm Reich & Tang. He has been an advocate for Chinese American representation, co-founding the Committee of 100 alongside architect I.M. Pei and cellist Yo-Yo Ma to promote U.S.-China dialogue and leadership.
Hsu-Tang, originally from Taipei, holds a Ph.D. in archaeology and has advised UNESCO and the U.S. Cultural Property Advisory Committee. She currently chairs the New-York Historical Society board and has played a key role in shaping its vision, particularly its focus on democracy and civic education.
Their contributions go beyond financial gifts; they are also deeply engaged collectors. Their art collection spans Chinese antiquities from the Bronze Age to contemporary Indigenous works. Hsu-Tang has championed underrepresented artists, recently loaning pieces for a New-York Historical Society exhibition featuring Cherokee artist Kay WalkingStick.
The Tangs’ philanthropy extends beyond New York. In Vail, Colorado, where they spend summers, Tang helped establish the Bravo! Vail summer music festival and has been a major supporter of the Vail Dance Festival.
As their impact on the arts continues to grow, the Tangs see their giving as a creative endeavor.
“Because we don’t have children together, these projects are our children,” Hsu-Tang said.
Their generosity cements their legacy as key figures in New York’s cultural evolution.
Photo: Courtesy of Metropolitan Museum