To enhance the quality of applications submitted by teachers and students of Shanghai Theatre Academy for the Shanghai Cultural Development Fund projects, our university’s Art Creation Center recently invited the Shanghai Cultural Development Foundation to conduct an STA-exclusive guidance and training session. The event took place in the multifunctional room of the foundation, providing closer access for the faculty and students.
Ms. Li Ming, the Director of the Review Office of the Shanghai Cultural Development Foundation, comprehensively interpreted the latest policies and guidelines for funding. She noted that this year's funding from the foundation would focus on implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, with special attention on creative works related to societal development concerns and significant events during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period. The foundation encourages creative activities centered on and around these pivotal moments to reflect their contemporary value and historical significance. Moreover, the foundation will emphasize supporting creations that reflect stories of the new era, particularly the vivid practices of Shanghai in advancing modernization with Chinese characteristics, including those that showcase the ethos of the age and represent significant and contemporary themes in cultural and artistic excellence. It's worth mentioning that the development of red culture themes from the new era will also be a primary focus, with the aim to further promote red culture and pass on its legacy.
In terms of funding direction, the foundation will continue to promote the protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage in line with the city's cultural context, supporting the innovative development of excellent traditional Chinese culture and helping it gain more recognition worldwide. Significant festivals, exhibitions, competitions, and events related to the performing arts will also receive attention to enhance Shanghai's image as a cultural city and to showcase its status as a cultural highland and an important window for Chinese culture to the world.
Regarding creative themes, the foundation will primarily support significant revolutionary historical themes, major realistic themes, warm realism themes, and themes about development in the new era. Particularly, themes characteristic of Shanghai will be a focal point and receive substantial support to display the city's historical and cultural heritage as well as its modern urban image. During her interpretation, Ms. Li Ming combined successful past cases to offer practical application advice and tips to the teachers and students present. The teachers and students listened attentively, took notes of critical information, and had in-depth discussions with the experts on their concerns.
Ms. Jin Yingfei, responsible for the review of drama and Peking opera applications, and Ms. Tao Shengzhen, in charge of music and dance applications, provided detailed explanations and interpretations for these two categories. They explained everything in great detail from the materials required for submission to budget content outlining, which helped the teachers and students gain a clearer understanding of every aspect of the application and review process.
This event fully demonstrated the high level of attention Shanghai Theatre Academy has attached to the application process for the Shanghai Cultural Development Fund. After the event, the teachers and students alike claimed to have gained immensely from it, and they expressed increased confidence in their project applications, vowing to endeavor for excellent outcomes.
