Beijing 2011

This past November, a delegation of outstanding American cultural figures traveled to Beijing to take part in four days of unprecedented cultural exchange. The US-China Forum on the Arts and Culture organized performances, master classes and roundtables that showcased the best of American culture, while forging new opportunities for American artists to collaborate and converse with their Chinese peers, in fields including visual and performing arts, literature, and cuisine.

The Forum commenced on November 16, 2011 with a grand banquet hosted by US Ambassador to China, the Honorable Gary Locke, featuring a culinary collaboration between Chinese organic farmers and celebrated chef Alice Waters, a pioneer in America’s sustainable food movement. In the days to follow, the program included six panel discussions pairing American and Chinese artists together for lively conversations, a screening and discussion of Joel and Ethan Coen’s True Grit, a special pre-release viewing of Meryl Streep’s film on Margaret Thatcher, The Iron Lady, and a concert in which Yo-Yo Ma and Chinese musicians journeyed through classical, traditional and modern music.

We find ourselves at a critical moment for what is arguably one of the most important bilateral relationships of the 21st century. The events of the US-China Forum on the Arts and Culture are intended to be a part of a long-term cooperative, creative relationship between the US and China, with a reciprocal delegation of Chinese planning to visit the US this coming year. We hope that the constructive engagement that began with this Forum in Beijing will grow for many years in the arts and beyond.

This post is also available in: Chinese (Simplified)