Broad-shouldered vikings, experimental contemporary art, intriguing paper cut-outs, dance performances, thought-provoking documentaries and musical performances will be available for Chinese audiences during the Danish Cultural Season in China.
Cultural exchange between Denmark and China will be intensified from the autumn of 2014 with a substantial cultural programme involving a number of major cultural stakeholders in both countries. The Danish Cultural Season in China includes exhibitions, concerts, film festivals, literary events, performing arts and theatre, design and architecture as well as special events dedicated to children and young people. The Danish Minister for Culture, Marianne Jelved, will be visiting China from October 24-30.
“Art ties people together and builds new bridges across borders. It speaks to us in a language that we can all understand. Cross-cultural dialogue is, therefore, essential for us to strengthen future collaboration between our two nations”, says Danish Minister for Culture Marianne Jelved.
“The Danish Cultural Season includes more than 60 unique events, and the programme will run until July 2015. It will offer a great opportunity to strengthen the artistic and cultural ties between our two nations. Together, we can build long-term relationships for our cultural institutions and artists. Personally, I’m very excited about visiting China”, explains Marianne Jelved.
A wide range of Danish cultural institutions and stakeholders are actively participating in the cultural initiative including the National Gallery of Denmark, the Museums of South West Jutland, the National Museum of Denmark, the Viking Ship Museum, the Danish Dance Theatre, Granhøj Dance troupe and the Danish Film Institute. In addition, a selection of Danish children and youth theatres and music groups will perform in China.
The programme is available online at www.culturedenmark.com
It is the largest single exposition to date of Danish art and culture in China – with a long-term strategy for establishing Danish-Chinese partnerships and collaboration that will have an impact on the future.
Collaborative partners
The Danish Cultural Season in China is being coordinated by the Royal Danish Embassy in Beijing, the Danish Ministry of Culture and the Danish Cultural Institute, as well as the Danish Arts Foundation, Danish cultural institutions, artist ensembles, and individual artists. The Chinese collaborative partners consist of prominent cultural institutions and key stakeholders in the cultural sector.
China as a focus area for cultural exchange
China is a central geographic focus area for the Danish government’s growth market strategy and an integral part of the Danish government’s action plan for international cultural exchange. In 2012, Denmark and China entered into an agreement to establish a Danish cultural centre in Beijing and a Chinese cultural centre in Copenhagen. In addition, two agreements have been signed to strengthen collaboration between Danish and Chinese museums and to establish the world’s first Music Confucius Institute at the Royal Danish Academy of Music.
Danish culture – a brief history
Danish art and culture is characterised by diversity as well as inclusiveness. Based on the pillars of enlightenment values, equal cultural access as well as individual thought, Danish art and culture embrace and encourage both professional art and the everyday use of and participation in culture and sport by ordinary citizens. Over the years, Denmark has been home to many eminent cultural personalities – most notably, the world-famous writer Hans Christian Andersen. He is not alone, and celebrated figures such as Søren Kierkegaard, Carl Nielsen, Carl Theodor Dreyer, Karen Blixen, Henrik Pontoppidan, Jørn Utzon, Arne Jacobsen and Lars Von Trier (to mention a few) have all helped make Denmark an exciting, inspirational and important country in the cultural field.