Secret script of women subject of new film

A mysterious ancient language provides the background for Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, a film starring Hugh Jackman, mainland actress Li Bingbing, and South Korean actress Jun Ji-hyun.

The film is set in the 19th century, when most women in China were illiterate. In a remote village, however, women developed "nu shu", their own secret code. Through letters written on fans, handkerchiefs and even shoes, they shared their dreams and pains and became life-long friends.

Wayne Wang directs the film, which will premiere in North America on July 15 and the film will get its China release in the same month.

Southwest University's arts achievements showcased

The Chongqing-based Southwest University's college of music and fine arts demonstrated its achievements in art education and creation in Beijing with a symphony concert at the National Center for the Performing Arts on April 27 and an exhibition at the National Art Museum of China from April 28 until May 8.

The event is part of the series of activities to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the founding of Chinese Communist Party.

The orchestra members and the creators of the exhibited pieces are teachers and students at the university.

Guqin concert highlights talent of country's students

The fifth National College Students' Guqin Concert was held last week at Beijing Normal University, presenting performances by students from 21 colleges and universities.

The guqin, a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument of the zither family, has traditionally been favored by scholars and literati as an instrument of great subtlety and refinement.

Since guqin music was proclaimed as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2003, it has been popular among young Chinese.

The National College Students' Guqin Concert was sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Chinese Center for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage, China Kunqu Opera & Guqin Research Institute, and Beijing Normal University.

Council salon gets to art of the matter

The seventh Council Salon was recently staged by the Beijing Council International Auction in the 798 Art Zone. The event provided insight into the transformation of local art galleries against the backdrop of the country's development as the world's largest art market by revenue at public auctions, while its galleries lag behind.

Guest speaker Fang Fang, director of 798's Star Gallery, shared her views on how galleries should build their own brands and leverage into the international scene. He said Chinese galleries are abandoning a "grocery store" business model characterized by large stocks of art works. They are now creating a new scene that cultivates their own brands and celebrity artists.

Fang said gallery owners and managers should invest in artists with potential, although their works might not yet be selling well.

TV anchor contest launched at CCTV

China Central Television (CCTV) recently launched the Sixth TV Program Anchor Contest. Career TV anchor hopefuls can register and upload an introduction video at the contest's official website, zhuchirendasai.cntv.cn.

The contest is open to participants not only on the mainland but also in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese can compete, too. The contest will assess entrants' literacy, artistic appreciation, news media work experience and program hosting ability.

CCTV hosted its first TV anchor contest in 1988. Many contests have since become excellent anchors for CCTV's flagship news and entertainment programs. The contest itself has also become a hot topic, and the live broadcasts of the finals and award ceremonies usually score high ratings.

China Daily