Strategising International Dialogue on the Art Festivals with Vision and Urban Cultural Development Strategising International Dialogue on the Art Festivals with Vision and Urban Cultural Development Strategising International Dialogue on the Art Festivals with Vision and Urban Cultural Development

Spanning 18 days, the 2nd Chengdu-Chongqing Theatre Festival featured 31 productions from various countries, delivering a total of 84 performances. The Festival showcased the rich cultural and artistic resources made available to Chengdu, Chongqing, and Pengzhou. Highlights included international showcases, a youth theatre competition, and cross-disciplinary events. Together, they helped create a vibrant, multi-city platform for collaboration and cultural exchange.

The forum, titled “In Search of Art Festivals – Mapping Art Festivals and Their Impacts on the Times and Lives of Development,” explored how art festivals can serve as visionary advocates for cultural development. It urged all to rethink the impact and efficacy of art events on cultural diplomacy, urban development, and the formation of cultural think tanks.

Through this forum, the Festival’s curatorial team aimed to continue the dialogue initiated by Yung in the previous year, reviewing both international and national cultural landscapes. The goal was to further strengthen the Festival’s international network and eventually provide an open platform for collaboration among global cultural institutions. The Forum addressed the following key sub-topics:

⒈ How art festivals influence urban diplomacy and global engagement

⒉ How urban arts of the art festivals drive community development

⒊ The significance of art festivals in nurturing talents and developing cultural think tanks

At the forum, Yung stressed the interconnectedness of cultural diplomacy, city branding, the creative industries, and the arts sector. Citing the “Festival of Vision – Hong Kong / Berlin” (initiated by Zuni in 2000) as a key example of large-scale cultural exchange between Asia and Europe, he explained how such initiatives facilitated cross-city cultural exchanges among Hong Kong, Europe and Asia. Yung stated that art festivals could extend beyond their conventional functions to act as cultural think tanks. He stressed the necessity of long-term development planning, critical studies, and cross-disciplinary collaboration in building sustainable cultural infrastructure.

Both experts then shared their theoretical perspectives and pragmatic approaches.

Drawing on his experience as Department Head of Haus der Kulturen der Welt at ZHdk and as a theatre practitioner, Wickert examined how European art festivals build bridges between artistic practice, institutional policy, and cultural infrastructure. Such models, he suggested, could inspire artists, educators, and cultural leaders to devise transformative festivals that fuel broader arts and cultural development.

In addition, Odenthal, referencing his work at Haus der Kulturen der Welt, reflected on the evolving role of curation and arts research in intercultural cities ecosystems. He remarked that festivals ought to connect with and echo the pulse of the urban environment, hoping that the Forum could serve as a critical point of departure for the ongoing discourse.

Several key questions emerged during the discussion. Guest speakers in the think tank shared valuable insights and experiences, shedding light on the current cultural climate in both international and Chinese contexts. These contributions help inform the search for new strategies for development within emerging cultural ecologies. Art festivals, in this context, serve not only as vehicles for urban cultural expression but also as catalysts for reimagining methodologies that drive urban development.

This cross-cultural dialogue provides crucial insights for shaping the evolving cultural landscape of the Chengdu-Chongqing Theatre Festival and similar initiatives across other Chinese cities. It started important conversations about the future of the arts sector and the ongoing evolution of art festivals. With continued dialogue and wider discourse, new possibilities will come to light amid these changes.

Dates: 27 September – 13October, 2024

The 2025 Chengdu-Chongqing Theatre Season was a key programme of the 14th China Art Festival. After the Festival’s inauguration in 2024, this year’s season brought together 31 acclaimed productions from China, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, and other countries, with a total of 84 performances. The programme spans international showcases, a youth theatre competition, and cross-disciplinary events, staged across Chengdu, Chongqing, and Pengzhou, creating a dynamic, multi-city platform for collaboration and cultural exchange.

Date: 12 October, 2025
Location: Auditorium, College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts, Chengdu University

Key Speakers: Danny Yung, Hartmut Wickert, Johannes Odenthal
Panel: Luo Dajun (Deputy Director of the Chinese Theatre Literature Association)
Moderator: Jin Ge (Member of the China Film Literature Society)