Cultural forum calls for broader platform for arts

Cultural leaders from China and Europe advocated more support for artists and particularly today's culture at the third European Union-China High Level Cultural Forum and Round Table, which ended on Nov 30 at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing.

The event closed the 2012 EU-China Year of Intercultural Dialogue. Dozens of artists, policy makers, scholars and executives of cultural institutions gathered to discuss the challenges of creating cultural policies, as well as new approaches to deepen cultural cooperation.

The conductor and director of the Beijing Music Festival Yu Long said that European countries should give adequate attention to China’s cultural development.

"People always talk about China's ancient civilization of five thousand years. Yet the world needs to know more about today's Chinese artists, who are equally outstanding," Yu said.

He added that for China and the EU, cultural cooperation is not simply about exhibiting antiques but also about finding mutual values. Both sides should provide a broader platform so that artists can fully commit themselves to creating.

Zhang Fan, chairman of the Midi Festival, agreed and said that China's cultural policies have become more tolerant.

For instance, Zhang said that the Ministry of Culture sent three bands to participate in this year's Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany, marking the debut appearance of Chinese bands on the world's biggest heavy metal open-air festival.

He said he hopes the government will offer young musicians of different genres more opportunities to showcase their talent, and establish a music exports office to promote the Chinese music industry.

Meanwhile, Chinese contemporary dance is also enjoying a wider stage in Europe.

Dieter Jaenicke, artistic director of Hellerau, the European Center for the Arts in Dresden, said they now have a special China From Inside program, which introduces contemporary dance companies from Beijing and Shanghai to European audiences with performances and dialogues from Dec 1 to 8.