BACKGROUND

In May 2009, the European Commission and the Chinese Ministry of Culture launched a policy dialogue on culture, back to back with the First EU-China Cultural Industries Forum held in Shenzhen. This led first to 2011 being designated as the EU-China Year of Youth and then to 2012 being designated as the EU-China Year of Intercultural Dialogue.

Cultural cooperation between China and the EU can be traced back further, however, as China was eligible for funding from the EU Culture Programme for projects running for two years from 2008.

A total of 10 projects involving Chinese organisations were selected for co-funding for a total of EUR1,647,148. These covered fields such as performing arts, cultural heritage, new media technologies, library, books and reading, architecture, design and applied arts.

Other cultural activities supported by the Culture Programme have strengthened intercultural relations between the EU and China, such as the European Union Youth Orchestra, which gave concerts during the Shanghai Expo in 2010.

Overview of supported EU-China projects

1. Quand la lune se lève part 2, a performing arts initiative of French, Belgian and British partners and five Chinese co-organisers. Grant: EUR180,000.
   1. Contemporary Art Theatre (China)
   2. Nine Draming Company (China)
   3. Hintang Company (China)
   4. Guiyang Art College (China)
   5. Nanling Theatre College (China).
2. The International Dunhuang Project: Cultural Routes of Eurasia (IDP-CREA). This united British, Hungarian, French and German libraries, museums and academies and three Chinese co-organisers. Grant: EUR177,815. Chinese co-organisers:
   1. The National Library of China (China)
   2. Dunhuang Academy (China)
   3. Xinjiang Institute of Archaeology (China).
3. Hallerstein combined performing arts and new media technologies in a Slovenian, Czech, Portuguese and Austrian collaboration with a Chinese university. Grant: EUR179,590.
   Chinese partner:
   Beijing Language and Culture University (College of Humanities/Institute for Sinological Studies) (China)
4. Echanges croisés sur les techniques de conservation du patrimoine graphique: Chine – Inde – Europe worked with partners in France, Italy, Hungary and the UK, as well as Indian and Chinese partners, on developing and exchanging techniques for preserving literary heritage. Grant: EUR180,000.
   Chinese partner:
   1. Guangzhou History Museum (China).
5. China moves – coop Europa initiated by a German partner, brought together Chinese, Spanish, Dutch and Norwegian co-operators around a performing arts show. Grant: EUR180,000.
   Chinese partners:
   1. Living Dance Studio/Crossing Festival Beijing (China)
   2. Fringe Festival Shanghai (China).
6. OPENCO – Operatic Encounters – Common Voice saw the association of British, Finnish and Austrian partners with a Chinese partner. Grant: EUR178,119.
   Chinese partner:
   1. Shanghai Theatre Academy (China).
7. The Orientations Triology (TOT) featured collaboration between British, French, Swedish, Chinese and Indian partners in the field of theatre. Grant: EUR180,000.
   Chinese partner:
   1. Shanghai Yue Opera Company (China).
8. Creating Spaces was a Finnish/Estonian/Swedish cooperation with a Chinese partner. It was an interdisciplinary project covering cultural heritage, visual and performing arts and architecture. Grant: EUR76,848. Chinese partner:
   1. Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture (China).
9. European/China contemporary art exhibition featured British, French, Swedish and Chinese partners. Grant: EUR134,776.
   Chinese partners:
   1. British Council, Chongqing (China)
   2. 501 Arts Space (China).
10. Underground Museums and Conservation "in situ". Sino-European dialogue through the Han Yang brought together a number of Italian, Belgian, German and Chinese partners. Grant: EUR180,000.
    Chinese partner:
    1. Han Yang Ling Museum (China).