Who We Are

The Dunhuang Foundation was established in 2010 as a United States IRS-approved 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, originally founded to support the Dunhuang Academy, particularly in building a state-of-the-art visitors center to accommodate the nearly 3 million visitors per year to Dunhuang. For 15 years, our focus has been on preserving and promoting the cultural and historical significance of Dunhuang. Now, as we mark this milestone, we are expanding our mission to encompass the broader Silk Roads, recognizing the vast and interconnected artistic, religious, and cultural exchanges that shaped civilizations across Asia and beyond.

We embrace an expansive, interdisciplinary approach that transcends traditional boundaries of nation-states and area studies, recognizing Dunhuang’s historic role as a crossroads of global artistic, religious, economic, and political traditions. Our mission is to support and expand Silk Roads Studies by fostering innovative research, facilitating international collaborations, and promoting a deeper understanding of the exchanges that influenced the development of societies across time and space.

Through grantmaking and scholarships, we empower academics to explore the rich histories and cultural interactions along the Silk Roads.

Additionally, we maintain a strong partnership with the Dunhuang Academy, facilitating international scholarship and expanding global engagement with Dunhuang’s unparalleled artistic and historical legacy. By supporting rigorous academic inquiry and cross-cultural exploration, the Dunhuang Foundation ensures that the legacy of the Silk Roads continues to inspire and inform future generations.