Global art education alliance, academic exchange conference launched

The establishment ceremony of the Northeast Asia International Art Education Alliance and the First Academic Exchange Conference, initiated by the Shenyang Conservatory of Music and guided by the Liaoning Provincial Department of Education - with support from the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Liaoning Province and the Liaoning Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries - was grandly held from October 12 to 15. The first batch of Alliance members includes Shenyang Conservatory of Music; Chugye University for the Arts of Korea; Herzen University Institute of Music, Theatre and Choreography of Russia; Hanyang University of Korea; Heisei College of Music of Japan; Mongolian National University of Arts and Culture; Sydney Conservatorium of Music; The University of Sydney (specially invited); and Conservatory of music of Shenyang Normal University, among others.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past decade, Shenyang Conservatory of Music has actively fostered understanding and collaboration with populations and higher institutions in countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative through a series of cultural performances and academic exchanges, reaping abundant results. The establishment of the Northeast Asia International Arts Education Alliance signifies another major step by Shenyang Conservatory of Music in serving the regional economy, constructing an opening window towards Northeast Asia, fortifying cultural confidence, embracing openness and inclusiveness, upholding traditions and pursuing innovation, and proactively responding to the Belt and Road top-level cooperation initiative.

Zhao Hengxin, Party secretary of Shenyang Conservatory of Music, delivered a speech on behalf of the Alliance's founding units. He underscored that arts education is essential for talent cultivation and cultural preservation. As a region with a rich history and culture, Northeast Asia boasts unique artistic resources, traditional cultures, and a diverse range of artistic brands and features. Promoting joint prosperity and development of arts education in Northeast Asia involves harmonizing wisdom from all parties, reaching broader consensus, reflecting on successful experiences, exchanging advanced concepts, strengthening effective cooperation and establishing a long-term mechanism.

Keynote speeches on the future development and cooperative prospects of art education in Northeast Asia were delivered by a host of delegates, including Feng Zhilian, executive president of Shenyang Conservatory of Music in charge of administrative work; Yim Sang-hyok and Jeon Sung-hae , president and vice-president of Chugye University for the Arts of Korea; Kuznetcova Elena, president of Herzen University Institute of Music, Theatre and Choreography of Russia; Odsuren Dagmid, vice-president of Mongolian National University of Arts and Culture; Bassoon Prof, Magome Isamu of Heisei College of Music of Japan and Matthew Hindson, deputy dean at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, The University of Sydney. The 4-day meeting will be filled with 2 concerts, 6 exchange meetings, 13 master classes and additional lectures, gathering more than 20 experts and hundreds of teachers and students from 7 universities in 6 countries.

The formation of this Alliance bears significant importance for elevating the level of internationalization and external openness of education in the Liaoning Province, deepening exchanges and collaborations in the field of arts education among Northeast Asian countries, and jointly advancing the prosperity and progress of arts education in the Northeast Asian region.