Introduction

This is a visual arts project supported by the Welsh Assembly Government. Leaded and administered by the British Council, China offices (including Chongqing, Gunagzhou, Beijing and Shanghai). Also with the support from WAI (Wales Arts International) and partners in Wales.  

The project is thoroughly planned and will bring maximum artistic benefit to the artists and develops the potential for long term relationships between the partners in China & Wales and to ensure the quality and impact of subsequent communications.

“In search of the red dragon” workshop:

Date: 08/03/2008 10:30-11:30
Venue: Exhibition Hall, 1st Floor, Three Gorges Museum

The four host organisations are:

• Trinity College Carmarthern
• Aberystwyth Arts centre (attached to the University)
• UWIC - School of Art and Design
• Regional Print Centre, Yale College Wrexham

The host organisations and the project manager in Wales will provide both a meaningful artistic experience as well as a personal development support.

The eight winners are: Hou Lidan, Wang Chuan, Liu Yin, Chen Wei, Yin Shuangyi, Liu Fan, Chen Jiao and Lan Jian. They are going to start their journey to Wales from 31 March. What experience do they have in their past artistic lives? Do they have any special ideas or thoughts? What are their expectations of this journey? They would like to share all of these with audiences who are interested in this project during the workshop. The Director of Wales Arts International is also going to introduce Wales, Welsh culture, the host organisations, as well as the residential programme.

Selected Artists:

Reserve List:  Liu Ren (Shanghai)

The candidates

Eight emerging artists have been selected from leading universities / colleges in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing to travel to Wales to participate in a series of residencies for a period of 6 weeks in Spring 2008.

Please send your inquiry to: RedDragon@britishcouncil.org.cn

Artist selection criteria

• 21-30 year-old emerging artist (Graduating within past 5 years)
• exceptional artistic talent
• ability to communicate in English
• commitment to contemporary practice
• demonstrable benefit to the applicant at this time in his/her career
• applicant's anticipated use of the knowledge and experience gained upon return to China

Personal Qualities

• independent and resourceful
• high professional standards
• sufficient maturity to fit into a foreign environment
• willingness to communicate and share ideas, knowledge and information
• flexible, adaptable, positive and confident personal style
• responsible and calm under pressure

Finalists

Once the 16 have been chosen their application forms will be sent to Wales to choose the winners. These 8 will be based on:

• imagination/ representation of Wales in an original and positive way
• 4 artists’ proposals (application forms) from each city
• Previous exposure of their art works- whether this is through an on-line diary linked to local papers and media etc.
• willingness to communicate
• suitability to host organisations
• demonstration of the benefits to their own artistic practice

The selection panel The 1st Phase selection panel will be made up of representation from: British Council China office, arts organisations and universities in each of the four cities mentioned above. They will choose 4 from each city to submit a proposal to the second phase. The 2nd phase selection panel will be made up of representation from: Wales Arts International, Welsh Assembly Government and the host organisations in Wales.

The residencies

The 8 selected artists will travel to Wales in late March to commence their residency from the 1st of April until the 14th of May （TBC）. The host organisations will be responsible for the artists during the stay.

Host Organisations

• Trinity College Carmarthern
• Aberystwyth Arts centre (attached to the University)
• UWIC - School of Art and Design
• Regional Print Centre, Yale College Wrexham.

The host organisations will provide pastoral care as well as educational support. This will include staff time, studio space and materials and accommodation and food. The host organisation will provide both a meaningful artistic experience as well as a personal development support.

Timeframe: