The Center for U.S.-China Arts Exchange
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The Yunnan Initiative
In
1990, in an effort to assist local Chinese organizations in fostering
an understanding of and appreciation for regional arts among both minority
and Han populations, the Center launched the "Joint Plan on Yunnan National
Cultures." With funding from The
Ford Foundation and supplementary grants from the Asian Cultural
Council and the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia,
the project seeks to develop methods of preserving regional artistic
traditions. It is also committed to creatively meeting the challenge
posed by the great increase of tourism in the Yunnan province.
The feasibility of the project was determined during the Center director's (Chou Wen-chung) December 1990 and June 1999 visits to Kunming City and Luxi County in Yunnan, where it was immediately met with great enthusiasm by all sectors of the province. Since then, the Center and Ford have spent nine years and dedicated nearly five-million dollars to this effort. As a result, they have brought together hundreds of scholars from the United States,China, and South and Southeast Asia to develop comprehensive strategies for the continuation and further development of the traditional arts of Yunnan's twenty-five minority nationalities.
Current Projects
Fieldwork
Research Group
An inter-institutional (kua-danwei) group of junior scholars and artists
chosen and established as an NGO by the Center to conduct in-depth research
on arts and culture projects related to Yunnan's nationalities and produce
publications for dissemination.
Folk Arts Center: Province-wide Survey of Arts and Crafts
A survey of arts and crafts designed by the Center's team of advisors
and the Folk Arts Center conducted in 120 counties in Yunnan using 2,000
cultural cadres who were trained to use prevailing international research
methodologies in conjunction with their individual knowledge of specific
nationalities and villages. The survey is also being used to recognize
artists and craftsmen as "National Treasures."
Yunnan Nationalities Institute: Nationalities Art Department
The first art department and curriculum of its kind, this program was
designed specifically to meet the needs of a multicultural Nationalities
(minority) constituency. The department combines classroom teaching by
mentors with long-term fieldwork projects in villages. Students are preparing
for numerous jobs including positions in education, tourism, and government
policy.
Yunnan Plan: Newsletters
Detailed information on the development of the Yunnan Plan, stage by stage.
(1990-1998)