Recently, the Closing Ceremony of the 2022 "Focus on Zhejiang" International Cultural Exchange Activity, jointly sponsored by the Information Office of the Zhejiang Provincial Government and Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, was held in Liangzhu National Archaeological Site Park, Hangzhou. Representatives of international cultural exchange bases of Zhejiang and of foreigners in Zhejiang witnessed the "annual summary" of the international cultural exchange activity. At the ceremony, Zhejiang Conservatory of Music (ZJCM) was awarded as ‘Zhejiang International Cultural Exchange Base’, Francesco, an Italian teacher of the Department of Musicology, won the title of "Envoy of Picturesque Zhejiang", and Matea, a North Macedonian teacher of the Dance Department, won the ‘Community Friendship Award: Award for the Most Talented’.

Francesco, an Italian teacher of the Department of Musicology 

Matea, a North Macedonian teacher of the Dance Department 

Zhejiang is an important window for the world to learn about China, and it is China in miniature. The Information Office of the Zhejiang Provincial Government and Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism launched the application and selection of international cultural exchange bases, in order to further expand the cultural exchanges with foreign countries, fully display the good image of an "important window", promote the high-level construction of an international hub for cultural exchanges along the Belt and Road, and enhance the international influence and reputation of beautiful and picturesque Zhejiang. ZJCM won the highest score among the 32 applicants with good performance in four aspects, namely high-level international professional talent teams, high-quality international cultural exchange activities, high-quality independent publicity and distribution platforms, and efficient operation mechanisms.

China-CEEC Music Academies Union established at ZJCM

Concert at the Founding Ceremony of China-CEEC Music Academies Union

Since its founding, ZJCM has attached great importance to cross-border cultural exchanges and has successively undertaken a series of high-end foreign exchange programs of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. They include China-CEEC Cultural Cooperation Forum (2017), ‘Insight of China’ —‘the Belt & Road’ Art Master Workshop (2017, 2018, 2019), CEEC Composers' Visit to China Program (2018), Visit of CEEC Opera Festival Directors to China (2018), and ‘Happy Chinese New Year’ performance activities of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022). In addition, ZJCM actively responded to the Belt and Road Initiative by taking the lead in establishing China-CEEC Music Academies Union together with 15 conservatories of Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC), with the secretariat based at ZJCM.

ZJCM teachers and students participate in ‘Happy Chinese New Year’ activities overseas

Students go to Liceu Conservatory for exchanges and study

Based on its own advantages, ZJCM insists on opening up policy in school running. It has signed inter-school cooperation agreements with 30 colleges and universities of 15 countries, including the Royal Northern College of Music in the UK, the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Hungary, and Conservatory of Music Milan in Italy. They regularly carry out such programs as joint training of students, mutual academic visits of teachers and students, and exchanges and cooperation performances. Besides, ZJCM offers international master classes and workshops all year round, and invites foreign music, dance and drama artists to the conservatory for academic exchanges. In particular, ZJCM has successively organized some major foreign cultural exchange programs, including the International Chamber Music Festival, Hangzhou Contemporary Music Festival, International Piano Festival, and China-CEEC Music & Dance Festival. Even in the past three years, it has overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and carried out effective cultural and artistic exchanges.

Opening Concert of the 3rd Hangzhou Contemporary Music Festival

Welcome Ceremony for the CEEC Composers' Visit to China

ZJCM will take the opportunity of being rated as ‘Zhejiang International Cultural Exchange Base’ to integrate existing resources with a strong sense of responsibility and mission. It is going to actively create conditions to effectively expand the scope of foreign cooperation, deeply build the brands of international art festivals, expand cooperation with famous foreign (overseas) colleges and universities, and establish an overseas culture communication system for Chinese music. By virtue of the resources of China's embassies and consulates overseas, Chinese cultural centers overseas, Chinese (foreign) chambers of commerce, and international alliances, ZJCM plans to organize a series of high-level brand projects such as cross-cultural exchanges, overseas bases for the art of Chinese music, international academic forums, music festivals, and master classes. Moreover, ZJCM will comprehensively promote the creation of fine works of art and advance international exchanges, fully leverage the role of China-CEEC Music and Art Innovation and Research Center, facilitate overseas development of Chinese art and culture, broaden channels for international cultural exchanges and cooperation, and tell Zhejiang's stories well and convey the voice of China with music.