People’s Daily, 16 November 2014, Page 7
Author: Han Sheng, President of Shanghai Theatre Academy
Demonstrating the outcomes of artistic creation, experiment and research has always been an indispensible part of the teaching and learning practice of tertiary institutions of the arts. Rising Artists’ Works (RAW), i.e. the joint initiative of Shanghai Theatre Academy and China Shanghai International Arts Festival, was based on the complementarities between the functions of arts and education as well as the conformity of concepts in talent cultivation, creation and research, community service and cultural guidance.
The idea was not new. During the early years of Shanghai Theatre Academy, part of the funding for the operational expenses had been generated from performances. We have lost many valuable traditions without knowing when and how. In this sense, RAW also reflected the rules of professional education and was a return to the essence of education. Fortunately, this plan fitted perfectly well with the Young Artists Support Program of China Shanghai International Arts Festival. The joint efforts of both sides provided a higher, more open and institutionalized platform for guiding the anticipation of teachers and students of the arts for artistic creation as well as the expectation of the audiences from general public.
Opening up the campus was not for suspending classes and giving the students days-off, instead, it was a much bigger text on the outcomes of teaching and learning, because the artists and officials from dozens of different countries, the large number of art lovers from different universities in China and the members of general public would all make their opinions about the artistic works known through exercising their full freedom of choice.
RAW was positioned to showcase the experimental works created originally by young artists, not just by STA’s own students. All works were subject to the selection by art experts before they could be qualified for participation. The works of the universities and institutions of different types should meet certain artistic and professional standards as a threshold, and the works should be creative. The purposes of exchange and learning from each other were achieved through the display and performance of the works of the domestic and international young artists and university students from the same specialties of the arts. While demonstrating their own works, the participants also had the opportunities to appreciate the artistic creation of the others of the same generation. We will further optimize the mechanisms and standards and ensure even closer integration with the teaching and learning.
We are most grateful for the great support and cooperation from China Shanghai International Arts Festival. The two very successful RAW events have further strengthened our confidence and determination for continued cooperation going forward. As an expert said correctly, this increment is becoming a new norm of a university and the society.
