UK Museums to explore cultural links with China

A symposium on building cultural partnerships with China is being hosted by the Fitzwilliam Museum for museums across the UK. A symposium on building cultural partnerships with China is being hosted by the Fitzwilliam Museum for museums across the UK.

Prompted by recent initiatives from China to work more closely with cultural institutions abroad, a free symposium at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge on 9 May will give practical advice to regional UK Museums on how they can benefit from these opportunities with key-note talks and case studies from cultural industry leaders from both China and the UK.

International artist exchanges, youth exchanges to China and exhibitions of rare artefacts never-before seen in the UK are some of the groundbreaking international projects already underway or in development by Museums across the country. It is hoped that more projects like these can be encouraged through the symposium which is organised in partnership with the DCMS, MLA, British Council and Art Exhibitions China.

Timothy Potts, Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum commented: "There has never been a better time to engage with Museums in China and we hope this symposium will empower regional museums across the UK to take advantage of opportunities that already exist and forge the links to enable new projects in the future. Museums have a crucial part to play in creating cultural connections between countries that can help to facilitate more effective communication and foster new business partnerships. Equally, Britain has a strong shared heritage with China and our audiences will benefit greatly from the exciting events and exhibitions that arise from exploring this country's rich 5,000 year history."

The symposium is part of a series of events and projects on Chinese culture at the Fitzwilliam which culminates in 2012 with the exhibition Tomb Treasures of Han China, one of the most significant exhibitions of ancient royal Chinese art ever seen overseas.

For more information on the symposium and to book please visit the symposium web page.

Symposium speakers include:

Timothy Potts, Director, The Fitzwilliam Museum Yao An, Assistant Director, Art Exhibitions China Quan Hong, Deputy Director, The Nanyue King Mausoleum Museum Keith Nichol, Head of Cultural Diplomacy, Department for Culture, Media and Sport Jane Weeks, Museums & Heritage Adviser, British Council Hedley Swain, Director of Programmes, Museums Libraries and Archives Council Michael O'Sullivan, Director of the Cambridge Overseas and Commonwealth Trusts

8 April 2011