On the afternoon of July 24, the unveiling and opening ceremony of the Jiangsu Mingde Arts School—a joint initiative by the Jiangsu Federation of Literary and Art Circles (JPFLAC) and Jiangsu Open University (JSOU)—took place at JSOU’s Dinghuaimen Campus.
The event was attended by distinguished guests including Chang Shengmei, Party Secretary and Vice Chairperson of JPFLAC; Liu Xuanming, Vice Chairperson of JPFLAC; Han Jun, Second-Level Inspector of JPFLAC; Zhang Yingchun, Deputy Party Secretary and President of JSOU; Liu Guiyou and Luo Yulan, Standing Committee Members of the Party Committee and Vice Presidents of JSOU. Also present were eight renowned artists, such as Lü Shaoming, a Mingde Model awardee in Jiangsu’s literary and art circles, alongside 50 trainees from across the province, representatives from JPFLAC and JSOU departments, and faculty members of JSOU’s School of Design. The ceremony was presided over by Han Jun.
In his address, Liu Guiyou highlighted JSOU’s mission to integrate art into public service and social development, emphasizing the collaboration with JPFLAC as a synergy between a cultural think tank and a digital-innovative university. He underscored plans to build a shared digital + arts resource platform and incorporate the partnership into JSOU’s 15th Five-Year Plan, leveraging master artists’ expertise to elevate grassroots practitioners’ skills and enrich Jiangsu’s cultural landscape.
Lü Shaoming, a celebrated cross-talk performer and recipient of the Ministry of Culture’s Golden Lion Award and Hou Baolin Gold Statue Award, spoke as a faculty representative. He hailed the school’s establishment as a response to the era’s demand for artistic heritage preservation, pledging to mentor trainees through hands-on guidance and ensure the continuity of artistic traditions in Jiangsu.
Wu Zongda, Vice Chairperson of Guannan County Film and Television Artists Association, voiced trainees’ commitment to honing their craft and bringing acquired skills back to local communities.
A strategic cooperation agreement was signed by Liu Xuanming and Luo Yulan on behalf of JPFLAC and JSOU, respectively, launching joint efforts in arts education, resource sharing, and talent development.
The climax came as Chang Shengmei and Zhang Yingchun unveiled the school’s plaque, calligraphed by Sun Xiaoyun, Chairperson of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, to resounding applause—a symbol of Jiangsu’s strides in arts education.
After the ceremony, attendees toured JSOU’s Resource Construction Center and Credit Bank, gaining insights into its digital education infrastructure and lifelong learning accreditation system.
The inaugural workshop, led by Lü Shaoming, runs through July 27, blending theory and practice. Future programs will feature intangible cultural heritage preservation and digital arts, coupled with community outreach performances. As trainees return to their localities, the Mingde Flame ignited this summer promises to illuminate Jiangsu’s cultural renaissance.
