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Invitation from the Government
September 25, 2010, Saturday
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THE Minhang government is subsidizing the effort to expand folk art and culture into neighborhoods. That is one of the key projects designated by the district government this year as part of a strategy to increase public awareness about a rich cultural past and to promote communication among various groups involved in preservation of folk heritage.
Shanghai possesses a very rich collection of folk culture, but it has been under-utilized to date. That's why the Minhang culture administration earlier this year published an invitation to all the folk art collectors in the district, asking them to come forth and participate in the new campaign. They were invited to display their own collections. The government said it would select 20 of the best for cultural subsidies.
The invitation drew an eager response. Many folk art collectors and cultural institutions in communities such as Hongqiao and Gumei saw a golden opportunity to lift their profile through the program.
At the same time, the Minhang government also invited cultural experts to evaluate the collections. Besides the value of the objects themselves, the experts used three criteria for judging collections:
1. An open but peaceful site for displays was necessary. Sites of 50 square meters or less were defined as "small exhibition hall." Sites of between 50 square meters and 200 square meters were deemed "medium exhibition hall." And anything bigger than that was put in the "large" category.
2. An exhibition hall had to be open to the public, free of charge, for at least 200 days each year. In cases where collections were originally displayed in homes, the local administration was instructed to arrange public display sites.
3. An exhibition hall had to hold at least one themed exhibition a year, and the exhibition had to show innovation.
"These three criteria weren't particularly severe because we wanted as many displays as possible to participate in the selection process," said the culture administration official.
Folk collections selected by the government were eligible for subsidies to support their daily management. The amount of subsidy depends on the size of the collection: Small exhibition hall were eligible for up to 9,000 yuan (US$1,345) a year; medium displays, up to 15,000 yuan; and large exhibition hall up to 20,000 yuan.
In mid-April, the first group of six folk collection exhibition halls were formally opened. In the last month, a second group of six opened. The 12 current folk culture exhibition halls are located in various areas, including Xinzhuang, Zhuanqiao, Qibao and Hongqiao. They feature ceramics, jade, calligraphy and painting, old books and ancient household wares.
The subsidy is not guaranteed forever. If a cultural collection isn't rejuvenated now and again, or if visitors complain about how an exhibition hall is operating, the subsidy may be withdrawn.
"So far, selected exhibition halls are operating very well, and they are becoming very popular with local people," said the administration official.
"We are not interfering with the content of these exhibitions, but we do invite experts to give advice and lend their support to these displays."
If an exhibition is deemed to be very valuable, it will be displayed in the Minhang Museum or in the Chunshen Culture Square. But most exhibitions will be displayed in community centers.
The Minhang government is hoping to eventually link the cultural displays in a heritage tour, with maps to guide locals and tourists to each destination.
Shanghai possesses a very rich collection of folk culture, but it has been under-utilized to date. That's why the Minhang culture administration earlier this year published an invitation to all the folk art collectors in the district, asking them to come forth and participate in the new campaign. They were invited to display their own collections. The government said it would select 20 of the best for cultural subsidies.
The invitation drew an eager response. Many folk art collectors and cultural institutions in communities such as Hongqiao and Gumei saw a golden opportunity to lift their profile through the program.
At the same time, the Minhang government also invited cultural experts to evaluate the collections. Besides the value of the objects themselves, the experts used three criteria for judging collections:
1. An open but peaceful site for displays was necessary. Sites of 50 square meters or less were defined as "small exhibition hall." Sites of between 50 square meters and 200 square meters were deemed "medium exhibition hall." And anything bigger than that was put in the "large" category.
2. An exhibition hall had to be open to the public, free of charge, for at least 200 days each year. In cases where collections were originally displayed in homes, the local administration was instructed to arrange public display sites.
3. An exhibition hall had to hold at least one themed exhibition a year, and the exhibition had to show innovation.
"These three criteria weren't particularly severe because we wanted as many displays as possible to participate in the selection process," said the culture administration official.
Folk collections selected by the government were eligible for subsidies to support their daily management. The amount of subsidy depends on the size of the collection: Small exhibition hall were eligible for up to 9,000 yuan (US$1,345) a year; medium displays, up to 15,000 yuan; and large exhibition hall up to 20,000 yuan.
In mid-April, the first group of six folk collection exhibition halls were formally opened. In the last month, a second group of six opened. The 12 current folk culture exhibition halls are located in various areas, including Xinzhuang, Zhuanqiao, Qibao and Hongqiao. They feature ceramics, jade, calligraphy and painting, old books and ancient household wares.
The subsidy is not guaranteed forever. If a cultural collection isn't rejuvenated now and again, or if visitors complain about how an exhibition hall is operating, the subsidy may be withdrawn.
"So far, selected exhibition halls are operating very well, and they are becoming very popular with local people," said the administration official.
"We are not interfering with the content of these exhibitions, but we do invite experts to give advice and lend their support to these displays."
If an exhibition is deemed to be very valuable, it will be displayed in the Minhang Museum or in the Chunshen Culture Square. But most exhibitions will be displayed in community centers.
The Minhang government is hoping to eventually link the cultural displays in a heritage tour, with maps to guide locals and tourists to each destination.
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