Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University
On November 1, 2016, a sunny day in autumn, a conference was held in the auditorium of Tsinghua University to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University (formerly the Central Academy of Arts and Design). The conference was attended by nearly 1000 people, including leaders of the university and the Academy such as Qiu Yong, President of Tsinghua University, Chen Xu, Secretary of the Party Committee, Feng Yuan, Vice Chairman of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Deputy Director of Central Research Institute of Culture and History, Vice Chairman of China Artists Association, and Honorary Dean of Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, Chang Shana, President of the former Central Academy of Arts and Design, Wang Mingzhi, former Dean of Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, former Vice President of Tsinghua University, and Consultant of China Artists Association, and Lu Xiaobo, President of Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, as well as representatives from sister universities at home and abroad, such as Liu Yuanfeng, President of Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, and Paul Thompson, President of Royal College of Art, and retired teacher representatives, alumni, in-service teachers, and undergraduate representatives of Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University. Li Gongqiang, Secretary of the Party Committee of Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, hosted the conference.
Li Gongqiang, Secretary of the Party Committee of Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, hosted the conference
Qiu Yong, President of Tsinghua University (left), Chang Shana, President of the former Central Academy of Arts and Design (middle), and Paul Thompson, President of Royal College of Art (right), attended the conference
Chen Xu, Secretary of the Party Committee of Tsinghua University (right), and Feng Yuan, Honorary Dean of Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University (left), attended the conference
Xie Weihe, Deputy Director of the School Administration Committee of Tsinghua University (third from the right), and representatives from overseas institutions attended the conference
Academician Qiu Yong, President of Tsinghua University, was the first to deliver a speech. He pointed out that through the joint efforts by generations of artists, educators, teachers, and students, the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University has become a renowned institution with a great reputation in the Chinese arts and design education circle as well as extensive influence in the global art education field, which has made remarkable contribution to the development of the art education industry of New China, the shaping of the national image, and the promotion of social civilization advancement.
Academician Qiu Yong, President of Tsinghua University, delivered a speech
Tsinghua University, with a 100-year history, is run in such a way that it combines Chinese and Western methodologies, ancient and modern ideas, as well as arts and science. It is currently pursuing the goal of becoming “more internationalized, more innovative, and more humanistic”. Art education is an important part of humanistic education. The Academy of Arts & Design plays an important role in building Tsinghua University into a world-class university.
He hoped that all faculty and students of the Academy of Arts & Design could carry forward the glorious traditions of the past generation of artists, explore art development ideas in line with their own characteristics, learn from excellent foreign art while taking root in the soil of Chinese folk culture, and let their imagination fly while keeping their feet on the ground, so as to create outstanding works that organically integrate the ideology and artistry. He hoped that they could always adhere to the principle of education first, and strive to cultivate outstanding talents with solid basic skills, excellent creativity and lofty social ambitions; that they could further promote the integration between arts and science and other different disciplines, and become role models in this regard; and that they could carry forward the spirits of innovation and hard work, build consensus, and work together to constantly take the work of the Academy to a new level, and make new and greater contribution to the Chinese and global cultural and art education industry!
Ms. Chang Shana emotionally reviewed the story and development course of the school at its initial stage. She pointed out that the Central Academy of Arts and Design was established in order to cater to the development of arts and crafts and the basic necessities of life in New China. In 1958, the faculty and students of the school took part in the top-10 architectural design tasks of Beijing, thereby laying an important foundation for the practice, education and design of various disciplines of the school. Ms. Chang Shana said that on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the school, we should particularly think about the founders and predecessors of the school, who have worked hard to cultivate generations of design professionals and outstanding talents for the soceity. The policy of “catering to the basic necessities of life” and the motto of “solidarity, practicality, professionalism, and innovation” should continue to guide the operation of the school.
Former Dean Chang Shana delivered a speech
President Chang ended her speech by quoting a poem called “Guanghua Road” by Mr. Pang Xunqin, one of the founders of the school. “Guanghua Road is a road of glory. Human makes roads, and Guanghua means adding splendor to the Chinese nation. In order to gain courage, confidence, and perseverance, we must firstly have national dignity and beliefs… Let’s keep pursuing our own Guanghua Road!" A round of applause arose after her speech, and everyone was touched by her deep love for the school and the Chinese art education undertakings.
Liu Shaohui, an alumnus representative who graduated in 1965, and a representative of the Yunnan school of painting, said in his speech that the Central Academy of Arts and Design was a name carved in the hearts of more than ten thousand alumni, and the students have been deeply influenced by the charisma and artistic character of generations of teachers, and have benefited from the “comprehensive and extensive art education” concept and spirit of the school, thereby establishing their lifetime art objectives and directions. From the Central Academy of Arts and Design to the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, the school had experienced 60 years of glory and fruitful achievements. Today, the modern school-running mechanism consisting of three academic sectors, i.e., design, fine arts, and artistic theory, and the latest development achievements of the school are really inspiring. As an alumnus, he sincerely wished the school a brighter and more promising future.
The Alumnus Representative Liu Shaohui Delivered a Speech
Paul Thompson, a representative from its peer school Royal College of Art of the UK and also the president of the school, made a speech. First, he expressed his congratulations to the 60th anniversary of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University. The Royal College of Art of the UK and the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University have a long relationship in cooperation, and especially in recent years, the two schools have jointly launched several teaching and research projects with frequent exchanges between the teachers and students on both sides. The two sides will be also devoted to the development and inheriting of the human civilization and art in the future, the integration of the eastern and western cultures and cultivation of high-quality international talents.
The President of Royal College of Art of the UK Paul Thompson Delivers a Speech
Lu Xiaobo, Dean of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, made the final address. He reviewed the development course of the Academy over the past 60 years in an all-round way and summarized the achievements made and experiences accumulated by the Academy in fostering of talents, discipline construction, social service and inheriting and innovation of culture. He especially pointed out that the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University would inherit and carry forward the tradition and literary life in the new 60 years in the future by forming a discipline system of three first-class disciplines relying on and supporting each other taking the design as the main subject and continue to advance its transformation into a research institute by attaching the same importance to the theory and practice and combining art and science according to the development idea of being open, inclusive, scientific, and innovative.
The Dean of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University Lu Xiaobo Delivered a Speech
The Academy will make great efforts to building a high-quality team of faculty excelling both in morality and academic achievements; fostering the talents in art and design who have a global vision and modern sense and are ready to make exploration and innovations and shoulder responsibilities through implementing the three-in-one educational ideas of “forming values, training abilities, and imparting knowledge” and promoting the integration of general knowledge and specialty, thus making unique contributions to the training of talents with overall qualities by Tsinghua University; it will fully utilize the advantage as a comprehensive discipline platform to further strengthen the construction of an innovative system through coordinated efforts of several disciplines and foster new growth points in terms of discipline by promoting the integration of art and science, technology and humanities; and it will promote the global level in an all-round way and actively participate in global exchanges, cooperation, and competition, striving to become “world-class, Tsinghua style” academy of art & design with Chinese characteristics.
The Scene of the Commemoration Meeting
The commemoration meeting came to an end in a ceremonial and warm atmosphere. After the meeting, all the honored guests and alumni participating in the meeting posed for a group photo taken by a drone outside the great hall. All of them talked happily in groups and took group pictures to commemorate the moment in celebrating the 60th birthday of their Alma Mater together!
(This picture comes from the Moment of WeChat)
A cycle of 60 extraordinary years has passed from generation to generation. At the beginning of its establishment, the Academy was the first higher institution of industrial art and modern design in New China, bringing together the most outstanding art educators, prominent researchers in the field of folk art in China and overseas artists and designers who returned to China. They are not only inaugurators and founders of the Academy, but also pioneers of contemporary multi-design and artistic creation in China.
