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Given the economic vitality, both Chinese society and governments have acted inadequately in terms of financial support for the cultural sector, Li says, so this move by the central government to play a leading role is welcome.

"Though our finance is relatively guaranteed (with government support), more investments would mean a better display of our ideas," Li says.

Lower-level arts organizations face an even more severe lack of money to create and promote their works, and their options to raise funds are limited, says Zha Mingzhe, deputy director of the National Theater of China, based on his work experiences with regional counterparts.

Chen Qiuping, director of the Fujian provincial department of culture, calls the foundation a long-awaited event by regional cultural officials.

During the foundation's inaugural meeting on Dec 30, Chen jokingly called himself "an early bird to catch the worm" as he unofficially submitted an application. His department is eager to launch Minnan (southern Fujian) and Chaozhou cultural centers in South Africa and the United States and a nationwide exhibition of the province's lacquer painting.

"The China National Arts Foundation may encourage regional governments to establish their own art foundations," Zha says.

In countries with a mature arts industry, such as the United States, financial assistance from both government and independent arts foundations has helped foster a diverse and innovative arts market.

The National Endowment for the Arts, an independent agency of the US government that receives funding from the Congress, supports new and established artists through grantmaking. Having invested as much as $4 billion to support excellence in the arts, the NEA has been a significant force behind dance troupes, opera houses and museums in the US since it was founded in 1965.

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