Tsinghua University held a conference on November 1 to mark the 70th anniversary of its Academy of Arts & Design.
Attendees included Li Luming, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of Tsinghua University; Zhu Di, member of the Leading Party Members’ Group, vice president and secretary of the Secretariat of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles（CFLAC）; Wang Jinzhan, member of the leading Party Members’ Group and secretary of the Secretariat of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST); Lin Mao, president of the Central Academy of Fine Arts; Guo Yong, deputy secretary of the CPC Tsinghua University Committee; Paul Thompson, chair of the British Council and former vice-chancellor of the Royal College of Art; Wang Mingzhi, former vice president of Tsinghua University, former dean of the Academy of Arts & Design, and distinguished professor of arts, humanities and social sciences at Tsinghua University; and Zhang Fengchang, former vice president of Tsinghua University and former secretary of the CPC Tsinghua Academy of Arts & Design Committee.
Venue of the Conference
Speaking on behalf of the University, Li Luming expressed his gratitude to the many individuals across society who have supported the development of the Academy of Arts & Design over the years. He also extended his congratulations to its faculty, students, staff and alumni.
Li reviewed the Academy's development history, particularly its educational achievements since the Central Academy of Arts and Design merged into Tsinghua University. He noted that over the past 70 years, the Academy has remained committed to fostering virtue through education, serving the country's needs and improving people's lives. Guided by the principle of “Art for Life, Design for Livelihood”, it has pursued the integration of art and science, producing numerous iconic works that have stood the test of time. It has also played an important role in shaping contemporary lifestyles and aesthetic culture in China, forging a distinctive path in art and design with Chinese characteristics.
As the Academy embarks on a new chapter in its development, Li called on it to keep firmly in mind the expectations placed upon it by General Secretary Xi Jinping, contribute actively to national strategies and the needs of the people, and cultivate interdisciplinary talent equipped for the intelligent age. He also called for more high-quality general education courses in aesthetic education to help foster a campus culture that embodies the ideal of “Aesthetic Education Enriches Tsinghua”.
He also encouraged the Academy to explore new approaches and mechanisms for integrating art and science, and to lead industry transformation through new achievements and innovative models. He called on the Academy to contribute to the development of an independent knowledge system in Chinese philosophy and social sciences, strengthening the role of art and design disciplines in this endeavor. He stressed the importance of promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of China's fine traditional culture.
Finally, he called on the Academy to uphold and strengthen the Party's overall leadership, use high-quality Party building to steer high-quality development, carry forward its revolutionary heritage and uphold its glorious traditions, and make new contributions to China's efforts to build a strong country, achieve national rejuvenation and advance human civilization.
Zhu Di said that over the past 70 years, the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University has remained true to its founding mission and served national strategies, making important contributions to the development of China's modern art and design disciplines, the shaping of the country's image, major national projects, and public cultural services. Looking ahead, he expressed his hope that the Academy would remain committed to a people-centered approach, carry forward its fine traditions, and shoulder the historic mission to realize the development and progress of the country, shoulder its responsibilities in serving national strategies, lead the way in design education through the integration of art and science, and foster deeper international cultural exchanges through the arts.
In his remarks, Lin Mao said that the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University and the Central Academy of Fine Arts shared longstanding historical ties and a common educational philosophy. Both institutions had remained committed to upholding high academic standards and the humanistic values of higher art education, while actively engaging with national development and people's lives.
He expressed his hope for closer exchanges between the two institutions, with each drawing on the other's strengths and sharing resources to jointly open a new chapter in the development of art and design education in China.
In his remarks, Dr. Paul Thompson said that in exploring the integration of art and science, the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University had embraced technological change while remaining firmly committed to aesthetic judgment and humanistic values. It had also pushed beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries while staying deeply rooted in its own cultural traditions. He noted that this ability to strike a balance was precisely what art and design education around the world needed today, reflecting the vision and sense of responsibility that define a world-class art and design institution.
Alumni representative Lin Lan, secretary of the CPC GAFA Committee; faculty representative Zhao Chao, professor in the Department of Industrial Design at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University; and student representative Ye Weilin, a 2023-entry undergraduate in the Department of Visual Communication Design at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, each delivered remarks. Drawing on their personal experiences, they shared their reflections on and experiences at the Academy.
Wu Qiong, dean of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, delivered the concluding remarks. Reflecting on the Academy's distinguished 70-year history, she said that the Academy should take on its responsibility for advancing aesthetic education in the new era and better serve national strategies and people's aspirations for a better life.
The conference was chaired by Qin Chuan, secretary of the CPC Tsinghua Academy of Arts & Design Committee.
The conference featured the screening of a promotional video marking the 70th anniversary of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, the special feature video A Gathering of Masters, and a launch teaser for LUOTU, the Academy's artificial intelligence (AI) disciplinary platform.
A series of events was also held alongside the conference, including One Lineage to Infinite Visions, a 70th anniversary invitational exhibition and academic forums organized by the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University.
More than 400 people attended the conference, including guests from peer institutions, industry societies and associations, art galleries and museums, enterprises, and the media; heads of relevant schools, departments, and administrative offices at Tsinghua University; alumni representatives from China and abroad; and retired faculty and staff, current faculty and staff, and student representatives from the Academy of Arts & Design.
