Policy Impact on Cultural Industries in the Next Decade

Cultural industries in China are heavily influenced by policies. With the ever-deepening cultural restructuring, cultural industries in China are embracing fast growth and becoming the country＇s pillar industry with strategic importance.     

Art Information

Government and Bank Collaborate to Support Cultural Industries
On March 10, the Ministry of Culture of China （MOC） and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China （ICBC） signed a strategic cooperation agreement in supporting cultural industries. Cultural Minister Cai Wu and ICBC Chairman Jiang Jianqing attended the signing ceremony. According to this agreement, MOC and ICBC will abide by the principle of＂conducting long-term cooperation, supplementing each other＇s advantages and promoting common development＂ in order to encourage the development of cultural industries of China.     

Wanda＇s Wang Jianlin： Boost Cultural Industries with Chinese Elements

＂Shanghai has seen robust growth of cultural industries over the past years. My proposal, if any, is to further enhance cultural self-awareness and create more with Chinese elements,＂ Wanda＇s President Mr. Wang Jianlin recently said at the ]ecture series on Shanghai＇s cultural industries taking place at Shanghai Library.     

Cultural Trials Launched in Shanghai Free Trade Zone

Professionals from the sector of cultural industries note that in a short term, open policies for cultural service will bring new opportunities for the performing and entertainment indus- tries of Shanghai Free Trade Zone （SFTZ） and the city of Shanghai as a whole; in a long run, SFTZ＇s practices and experiences will have extensive impacts on the country＇s performing and entertainment industries. What is the scenario of SFTZ~ cultural industries and what trend will they embrace？     

New Breakthroughs Made in Cultural Finance

On March 17, 2014, the Ministry of Culture, People＇s Bank of China and the Ministry of Finance jointly issued the Opinion Concerning the Deepening of Culture-Finance Cooperation （hereinafter referred to as ＂Opinion ＂）. This landmark document has drawn nationwide attention, as it calls for the innovation of the financial system for cultural development and the design of financial products and services that meet needs of cultural industries. What actions have been taken by local banking institutions in response to this reJorm policy and what efforts have been made to seek innovative approaches to culture-finance cooperation？ Here is the news story by China Culture Daily.     

Investment Fever in Cultural Industries

China Cultural Development Report 2014 released statistics that the added value created by cultural businesses in China in 2012 reached up to 1.8 trillion RMB yuan, making up 3.48% of the country＇s total GDP. However; capital＇s impact on culture is a double-edge sword. On one hand, industrialization and merger of cultural industries would be impossible without capital; on the other hand, the profit-pursuing nature of capital would lead bogus boom.     

Swedish Archaeologist Johan Andersson： Discoverer of Yangshao Culture

Yangshao Culture was a Neo- lithic culture extensively distributed along the Yel-low River in China. It was discov- ered in 1921 by Swedish archeolo- gist Johan Gunnar Andersson （1874 - 1960）, which disproved the conclu- sion that the Stone Age has nevcr ex- isted in China. Andersson＇s contri- bution to Chinese archaeology and China-Sweden cultural exclaange is widely recognized. But his asser- tion that Chinese culture was intro- duced trom the West has drawn con- troversv and dispute in the academic community and he was even once considered an associate to Westcrn imperialists.     

A Glimpse of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Hong Kong and Macau

The Yu Lan Ghost Festival of Hang Kong Chiu Chow Community Around 1.2 million people originating from Chiu Chow （Chaozhou） in Chi- na ＇s Guangdong province live in Hong Kong. During the Ghost Festival, they organize their own Yu Lan Ghost Fes- tival, which runs tor the entire seventh lunar month. The testival has been held tot over 100 years and is officially list- ed as part of China＇s intangible cultural heritage.     

Public Art in Beijing＇s Subway

Public art is an important comprising element for the development of urban culture and a direct physical barrier of urban culture. In addition to its unique artistic value, public art has more important cultural value because of its pubic nature. It connects the past and future of the city, add to the city＇s memory, narrate the city＇s story, meet urban dwellers＇ psychologi- cal and behavioral needs, create new cultural traditions, and present the city＇s kindness and friendship.     

Chinese Culture Today： Aspirations and Dreams

Editor＇s note： During the Festival of China taking place in Washington D.C. in October, 2005, Chinese Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng made a keynote speech in National Press Club, addressing political, cultural and media celebrities on China＇s policies and strategies for cultural development. The following Is the whole text of his speech.     

China in a Bumpy Way to Restitute Lost Cultural Property

At a special sale on the collection of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge held in Paris on February 25, in spite of repeated negotiations from the Chinese Government and strong protests from the Chinese people, Christie＇s, a world-famous auction giant, auctioned the rat head and rabbit head which were looted from China＇s royal garden＂Yuanmingyuan＂ in 1860 by the British and French Allied Forces. The two bronze heads were eventually sold for 14 million euro each. This shameful sale has again triggered out reflections on the restitution of cultural property looted or stolen from China.     

Alibaba Buys Stake in China Vision

Jack Ma said, ＂I have a great passion for the cultural industry, including movies and TV programs, because movies and TV programs has influenced my generation, and are to influence more in the future. I am concerned that during China＇s rapid growth, without the healthy de- velopment of the cultural industry, China will become the nouveau riche, wealthy but vulgar. Meanwhile, many intellectuals are reluctant to resort to commercial approaches. If they distain businesspersons and commercial approaches, they are unrealistic and unequipped with the means to grow. Therefore the country may face a gloomy future.＂     

Trend of China＇s Cultural Industry Development in 2014

2013 witnessed rapid development of China＇s cultural industry. Thanks to a series of preferential policies, China＇s cultural economy and cultural consumption index grew continuously,     

Stone Lions on Marco Polo Bridge

On July 7, 1937, the intruding Japanese forces assaulted Lugou Bridge （also known as the Marco Polo Bridge）, and Chinese defending soldiers responded by gun fire. This has been known as the worldfamous Lugou Bridge Incident, which marked the beginning of Japan＇s all-out aggression against China as well as of China＇s War of Resistance to Japan.     

China＇s Mt. Wutai Joins World Heritage List

Asacred mountain in China that has been witness to centuries of Buddhist history was added to UNESCO＇s World Heritage List during the 33rd session of the World Heritage Committee in Seville, Spain on June 6, 2009. The new addition to the heritage list is Mt. Wutai, comprised of five continuous mountains with flat peaks at altitudes of 2,500 to 3,000 meters above sea level. This new addition increased China＇s World Heritage entries to 38, including 27 cultural heritage sites, 7 natural heritage sits and 4 mixed heritage sites.     

Breathtaking Skills Stun Wuqiao 14th China Wuqiao International Cirous Festival

The 14th China Wuqiao International Circus Festival （hereafter referred to as CWICF）, hosted by the Ministry of Culture of People＇sRepublic of China and People＇s Government of Hebei Province, organized by Municipal People＇s Government of the Shijiazhuang and Department of Culture of Hebei Province and marketed by Beijing Yuanjianjuhe Investment Co., Ltd has been held from October 26th to November 3rd. 30 programs from 19 countries and regions were performed in the main venue of which 28 competed for the prize.     

China to Kick Off Structural Reform in Culture

＂Comprenenszvely aeepening reform＂is a key phase in China in 2014. Structural reform in culture constitutes an important aspect of the comprehensive reform in economy, politics, culture, society and ecology. The Implementation Plan on Deepening Structural Reform in the Cultural Sector, recently approved by the central government, marks a milestone in China＇s new campaign of market-oriented reform and heralds a new round of cultural restructuring. The curtain has raised and a significant reform is about to kick off.     

A Feast of Dance and Song The 3rd China Xinjiang International Dance Festival

China Xinjiang International Dance Festival （hereinfafter referred to as ＂Xinjiang International Dance Festival＂） is one of China＇s numerous cultural-exchange festivals. It is a state-level international art festival approved by the State Council of the People＇s Republic of China and co-hosted by China＇s Ministry of Culture, the State Council Information Office and the People＇s Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.     

CHINESE CULTURE SHINES IN RUSSIA

Editor＇s words： Co-initiated by Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Putin, the Year of Russia and the Year of China were launched in 2006 and 2007 respectively. This is the largest cultural event ever held in each other＇s country in the history of China-Russia exchange. In September, the staff reporter had an exclusive interview with Mr. Li Dongwen, Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations, Ministry of Culture of China, who gave a comprehensive review of the Year of China in Russia.[第一段]     

New Policies Adopted to Revive Intangible Cultural Heritage

At the quarterly news conference of the Ministry of Culture of China （MOC） in August, Ma Shengde, vice director-general respon- sible for intangible cultural heritage af- fairs released MOC＇s new approach- es and policies for the better protection and continuation of intangible cultur- al heritage. Ma said that these new mea- sures include producing documentaries by using literature kept in storehouses and archives, encouraging ICH and folk art showcases and performances at local houses of culture and squares, and im- proving the development oflCH-relat- ed derivative products, with an aim to revive ICH elements and make them an integrated part of people＇s lifestyle.