Presenting Chinese Art to the World
The establishment of UK Chinese Arts Association for immediate release
The UK Chinese Arts Association celebrates its establishment on 6th June 2014 in London.
UK Chinese Arts Association (UKCAA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to cultural exchange and communication between UK and China, supporting the development and creation of British and Chinese art. The association serves as a bridge between British and Chinese artists, galleries, museums and other art and culture organizations and individuals, and considers ‘working for the artists’ as its principle and essential task.
The first Chinese arrived in the United Kingdom some four hundred years ago. Ever since, there has been an ever more profound and ever broadening communication between the UK and China, and this communication has significantly shaped the social development and daily lives of both countries. Since the 19th century, Chinese immigrants – including figures as great and influential as intellectual Yan Fu, Gu Hongming, Qian Zhongshu, poet Xu Zhimo, playwright Cao Yu, artist Li Tiefu, Li Yuanjia – have made substantial contributions to the UK, and have also propelled the modernization of Chinese society as a whole. Since the 1980s, with the economic reforms in China, there has been an unprecedented number of Chinese arriving in the UK. Among them, a great number of artistic talents have emerged and marked a new, inspiring breakthrough in the history of British contemporary art, such as Cai Yuan and Xi Jianjun’s famed performanceon Tracey Emin’s bed. In the new millennium, this group of Chinese artistic talents has gone from strength to strength and has already formed a community of artists that is immensely influential. In order to assist and accommodate the needs of this large community of artists, and to support wide-ranging exchange between UK and Chinese art and culture, artists Mr Xi Jianjun, Mr Sheng Qi and Mr Guo Le together formed the UK Chinese Art Association. The UK Chinese Arts Association exists to provide a platform for the development of Chinese artists living and practising in the UK, to promote Chinese art in the UK, and to contribute to general cultural development and intellectual production in both countries.
The UK Chinese Arts Association is the biggest, most professional community of Chinese artists to date. It includes at least three generations of great talents. The establishment of the association is supported by its partner, Bank of China (UK) Ltd. The UK Chinese Arts Association and Bank of China will collaborate on future projects such as the ‘Art and Fortune’ educational programme. The UK Chinese Arts Association will regularly host large-scale exhibitions, lectures and seminars, educational programmes and various charity events. All are welcome to join us.
Since its formation, the UK Chinese Arts Association has been warmly supported by the Chinese community in the UK, and has received donations and assistance from all. We would like to thank the Bank of China (UK) Ltd, Mr Qing Long, Mr Li Guohua, China Culture Connect, Chinese Visual Festival, Opustique Infinity, ARTouch Consulting, and ART.ZIP for all your generosity and kindness.
以“藝”為盟，廣聯天下
英國華人藝術協會成立新聞稿
2014年6月6日，英國華人藝術協會于英國倫敦正式成立。
英國華人藝術協會是一個致力於促進中英兩國文化交流，服務中英藝術家發展及創作的非盈利公益組織。協會將為中英兩國藝術家、畫廊、美術館以及其他藝術機構和個人搭建一個交流和溝通的平台，并以“服務藝術家”為協會的工作宗旨和核心內容。
有史料記載以來，第一個來到英國的中國人距今已經400多年了，在這期間，中英兩國的交流不斷地擴大和深化，中英兩國的文化和藝術也在潛移默化中深刻地影響著彼此的社會發展和日常生活。19世紀以來，曾旅居英國的中國人中湧現出了無數的傑出人才：嚴復、辜鴻銘、錢鍾書、徐志摩、曹禺、李鐵夫、李元佳等不勝枚舉，他們推動了整個中國社會現代化的進程。20世紀80年代後，隨著中國改革開放政策的實施，越來越多的中國人走出國門來到英國，在這些旅居英國并在此工作生活的華人中，湧現出了一批優秀的藝術家，他們的藝術作品為英國當代藝術史增添了跨時代的一筆，其中蔡元和奚建軍的行為藝術《兩位藝術家跳上崔西的床》更是成為了英國藝術界盡人皆知的作品。
新千年以來，隨著中國經濟的騰飛和經濟全球化的發展，中英兩國的交流合作也更為密切，旅居英國的華人數量也越來越多，在這些人當中有一支不可忽視的華人文化力量，這就是在英國學習和創作的中國藝術家。為了更好地幫助華人藝術家以及更有力地促進東西方藝術的交流和發展，奚建軍、盛奇和郭洛三位藝術家號召發起并組織了英國華人藝術協會，希望將眾多的旅英藝術界人士集合起來，共同打造一個文化交流和發展的平台，促進和提高華人在英國的聲譽并為中英兩國的文化建設和知識生產作出貢獻。
英國華人藝術協會是迄今為止規模最大、最具專業性的華人藝術社團，結合了英國華人藝術界老中青三代藝術界精英。此次協會成立獲得了中國銀行（英國）的大力支持，同時中行和協會將結成合作夥伴關係，共同打造包括中国银行英国财富客户增值主题之“臻味英伦:艺术与财富”品牌等各類文化藝術項目。英國華人藝術協會成立后會定期組織大型藝術展覽、學術交流活動、藝術教育及各類公益慈善項目，並將以一貫的熱誠歡迎廣大對文化藝術感興趣的機構和個人參與到我們的活動當中來。
英國華人藝術協會籌建以來，獲得了英國華人社會的廣大支持和響應，獲得了各界精英的慷慨資助和鼎力相助。在此，謹對中國銀行（英國）、慶龍先生、李國華先生、中国文化连线（英国）、華語視像藝術節、佳德無限、藝觸藝術諮詢、ART.ZIP雜誌等為協會組建作出貢獻的機構和個人表達衷心的感謝。
Wechat：UKChineseArtsAssociation
Website：http://www.ukcaa.com
