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

Forum on the Contribution of Arts Festivals to Urban Cultural Development is part of the programme for the 2nd Chengdu-Chongqing Theatre Festival. The festival lasts for 18 days, showcased 31 productions and 84 performances to highlight the cultural and artistic resources of the Chengdu-Chongqing region. It focused on four core components—international productions, international youth drama competitions, cross-disciplinary and exchange events— aimed to advocate the integration and innovation of urban and cultural landscapes.

The forum, this time themed In Search of Art Festival – Mapping Art Festivals and Their Impacts on the Time and Life of Development, explored how art festivals can advocate for cultural development with vision, as well as to reflect the impacts and benefits of artistic activities on cultural diplomacy, urban development, and the cultural think tanks.

The forum aimed to build on Yung’s discussions with the festival’s curatorial team during his visit last year, focusing on the current cultural landscape in both international and Chinese contexts. It sought to further deepen the festival’s interactions with the international network through three major dialogue topics:

⒈ The impact of art festivals on urban cultural diplomacy and global perspectives.

⒉ The role of art festivals in impelling urban art on community development.

⒊ The significance of art festivals in human resource cultivation and cultural think tanks.

In the forum, Danny Yung shared insights into the connections between cultural diplomacy, urban branding, creative industries, and the arts sectors. Drawing the experience from the Festival of Vision – Hong Kong / Berlin held in the millennium, a large-scale cultural program curated by Zuni, which served a significant case study as a large-scale cultural exchange between Hong Kong and Berlin, this project explores how to facilitate cross-city cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Europe as well as Asia. Yung highlighted the possibility and importance of art festivals could have evolved from conventional functions into cultural think tanks. At the forefront of this evolution to long-term development, critical research, and the necessity for cross-disciplinary collaboration, all aimed at enhancing the structure of cultural infrastructure.

Also, the European experts shared their valuable experiences from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Hartmut Wickert, drawing on his experience as the head of the Department of Performing Arts and Film at Zurich University of the Arts and as a theatre practitioner, examined how European art festivals build bridges between artistic practice, institutional policies, and cultural infrastructure, which led to reflect how artists, educators, and cultural leaders can develop festivals that drive transformative change and propel artistic and cultural development.

Meanwhile, Johannes Odenthal addressed the evolving role of curation and artistic research in cross-city cultural ecosystems, based on his serving as Artistic Director of the Music, Dance, and Theatre Department at Berlin’s Haus der Kulturen der Welt. Odenthal noted the importance of establishing a strong connection between festivals and the urban atmosphere, and suggesting that the forum could provide a valuable opportunity for further discourse to enhance this relationship.

Throughout the discourse, key questions were raised, utilising insights from the think tank, and eventually exploring cultural paths for cities in both international and Chinese contexts. This positions art festivals not only as vessels for urban cultural expression but also as catalysts for discovering methodologies for urban development.

This cross-cultural dialogue offers vital insights into the emerging cultural ecology of the Chengdu-Chongqing Theatre Festival 2025 and other cities in China, sparking significant discussions about forward-thinking culture and the development of art festivals. We eagerly anticipate the positive changes and innovations that will arise in the future.

Dates: September 27 – October 13, 2024

The Chengdu-Chongqing Theatre Festival 2025 marks the event linked to the 14th China Arts Festival. Following the inaugural festival in 2024, this edition showcased 31 selected productions from China, France, the UK, Germany, Belgium, and beyond, totalling 84 performances. It encompassed sections including international productions, youth drama competitions, and cross-disciplinary activities. Various performances happening in Chengdu, Chongqing, and Pengzhou, creating an interactive and resource-sharing urban theatre festival.

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

Key Speakers: Danny Yung, Hartmut Wickert, Johannes Odenthal
Guest Discussion: Luo Dajun (Vice President of the Chinese Drama Literature Society)
Moderator: Jin Ge (Member of the China Film Literature Society)