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CECCI Successfully Co-Hosts the 2026 Asia-Europe Culture & Arts Development Forum – France with Shanghai Theatre Academy
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23th July 2026
On the afternoon of 20 July 2026 (local time in France), the 2026 Asia-Europe Culture & Arts Development Forum – France was successfully held at the Village du OFF during the Festival Off Avignon. The forum was jointly organised by the China Europe Centre for Cultural Innovation (CECCI) and Shanghai Theatre Academy, with the support of the China Shanghai International Arts Festival, the Festival Off Avignon and the City of Avignon.
Leveraging the international platform of one of the world's most prestigious theatre festivals, the forum brought together nearly 100 representatives from cultural institutions, festivals, universities, theatres and performing arts organisations from China, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and other countries and regions. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on international cultural exchange, theatrical collaboration, innovation in theatre education and the development of the cultural and creative industries, exploring new opportunities for cultural cooperation between Asia and Europe. By drawing on the global influence of the Festival Off Avignon, the forum created a high-level platform for dialogue and collaboration, facilitating the sharing of international cultural and artistic resources while further promoting deeper cooperation and exchange between Asia and Europe.
As a co-organiser of the forum, CECCI has remained committed to fostering cultural and artistic collaboration between Asia and Europe by promoting international theatre exchange, supporting the development of young artistic talent and advancing cooperation within the cultural and creative industries. Following the successful inaugural forum held in the United Kingdom in 2025, this year's edition marked the second Asia-Europe Culture & Arts Development Forum and its first appearance at the heart of the Festival Off Avignon in France. By leveraging the international influence of one of the world's leading theatre festivals, the forum further promoted two-way exchanges of outstanding productions between Asia and Europe, injecting fresh momentum into mutual learning between civilisations, people-to-people exchanges and international collaboration in the performing arts.
At the beginning of the forum, Michael Mc Manus-Schouchana, Deputy Mayor of Avignon, warmly welcomed guests from around the world and highlighted the significance of hosting the event during the Festival Off Avignon. He expressed his hope for closer cultural and artistic cooperation between France, China and countries across Europe and Asia, working together to promote cultural diversity worldwide. He also extended his appreciation to the CECCI and its Chinese partners for creating an efficient and practical platform for international cultural exchange.
The forum then presented the Performance Showcase of the 2026 Asia-Europe Culture & Arts Development Forum, featuring six outstanding productions from China, the United Kingdom, France and Italy.
The Théâtre en Anglais from France opened the showcase with Alice in Wonderland, combining singing, dance, comedy and original visual design to present an imaginative reinterpretation of Lewis Carroll's classic tale. Shanghai Theatre Academy presented its original dance theatre production Happy Birthday, exploring youth, personal growth and the value of life through contemporary movement. The children's play Ancient Ship 2.0 showcased the richness of traditional Chinese culture through innovative stage expression. The Spectator Cconcept Theatre performed the contemporary dance production The Floating Life 2.0, blending imagery inspired by Chinese culture with modern dance vocabulary to explore new possibilities for cross-cultural artistic expression. From Italy, Compagnie Il Milione presented Cartes Muettes (Silent Maps), telling the moving story of two lifelong friends reunited across time and space in a journey to recover a lost treasure while reflecting on the meaning of life. Shanghai Theatre Academy concluded the showcase with the traditional Chinese ethnic dance Rhythm of Life, highlighting the richness of Chinese folk dance and the elegance of classical Chinese dance while conveying the enduring vitality of Chinese civilisation.
Together, the six productions offered audiences a vibrant artistic programme characterised by international perspectives and cultural diversity. The performances were met with an enthusiastic response from the audience, while artists from different countries and regions engaged in meaningful dialogue through artistic exchange. The showcase not only demonstrated the vitality of cultural cooperation between Asia and Europe, but also highlighted the growing importance of the Asia-Europe Culture & Arts Development Forum as a platform for international cultural exchange.
Following the performances, Changyong Huang, Principal of Shanghai Theatre Academy, and Harold David, Co-President of the Festival Off Avignon, presented Certificates of Selection to representatives of the participating productions in recognition of their contributions to international cultural exchange, mutual learning between civilisations and the presentation of outstanding artistic achievements. They also encouraged more original productions to make use of the Asia-Europe Culture & Arts Development Forum as a platform for future international collaboration.
Following the performance showcase, the forum reached another high point with an in-depth exchange session. Distinguished guests from the cultural and arts sectors of China and France engaged in discussions on international cultural exchange, innovation in theatre education, international production collaboration and the development of the cultural and creative industries, exploring new opportunities and pathways for cooperation between Asia and Europe.
Changyong Huang, Principal of Shanghai Theatre Academy, delivered a keynote address entitled "The Internationalisation of Theatre Education in the Digital Age and the Future of Theatre Development." He noted that Shanghai Theatre Academy has consistently embraced an open approach to education and has established a strong foundation for international collaboration, particularly with the French theatre community. In the face of rapid advances in artificial intelligence, he emphasised that the future of theatre lies not only in the integration of technology and artistic practice, but also in the innovation of creative methodologies and educational models. He called on higher education institutions to actively explore new pathways for the coordinated development of the arts and technology while strengthening international partnerships to advance innovation in theatre.
Harold David, Co-President of the Festival Off Avignon, shared his insights in a presentation entitled "The Global Vision of Festival Off Avignon and Sino-French Theatre Exchange." He highlighted that openness, diversity and inclusiveness have always been the core values of the festival. In recent years, an increasing number of Chinese productions have been presented at the festival, providing international audiences with an important window into contemporary Chinese theatre. He noted that compelling artistic content and effective cross-cultural storytelling are key to the international success of Chinese productions and expressed his hope for deeper two-way exchanges between France and China, leading to more sustainable, long-term partnerships between cultural institutions in both countries.
As Chairman of CECCI, Bryson Xue has long been committed to promoting cultural and artistic cooperation between Asia and Europe. During the forum, he delivered a keynote speech entitled "A Two-Way Journey: Building an Industrial Support System for European Productions Entering the Chinese Market." Approaching the topic from an industry perspective, he examined the practical dimensions of copyright acquisition, localisation and policy coordination, proposing an integrated support framework that brings together multiple stakeholders to provide end-to-end services for high-quality productions—from project incubation to market implementation. He emphasised that sustainable industrial ecosystems are essential to transforming artistic dialogue into long-term cultural cooperation.
During the discussion session, participants also exchanged views on international theatre talent development, cultural communication in the digital age and international production collaboration. The forum fostered broad consensus on new models and pathways for international cultural cooperation, laying a solid foundation for further strengthening cultural and artistic exchange between Asia and Europe.
The forum concluded with the inauguration ceremony of the Shanghai Theatre Academy Overseas Practice Base (Avignon). The plaque was jointly unveiled by Changyong Huang, Principal of Shanghai Theatre Academy, and Bryson Xue, Chairman of the CECCI. The ceremony was witnessed by Harold David, Co-President of the Festival Off Avignon, and renowned French director Lucille.
The establishment of the overseas practice base marks another significant achievement in CECCI's continued efforts to promote cooperation between Chinese and European higher education institutions, foster international arts talent and expand overseas practice platforms. It also signifies the beginning of a closer and more sustainable partnership between CECCI and Shanghai Theatre Academy in areas including international arts education, overseas practical training, joint artistic creation and theatrical collaboration. The initiative will provide a broader platform for the international development of Chinese theatre education while further strengthening cultural and artistic exchange between Asia and Europe.
Following the successful launch of the forum in the United Kingdom in 2025, this year's Asia-Europe Culture & Arts Development Forum marked its second edition and its first appearance at the heart of the Festival Off Avignon. Through a series of events—including the Performance Showcase, the International Exchange Forum and the inauguration of the overseas practice base—the forum further promoted resource sharing, talent exchange and industry collaboration between Asia and Europe, creating new opportunities to deepen mutual learning between civilisations and strengthen people-to-people exchanges.
As the initiator of the Asia-Europe Culture & Arts Development Forum, CECCI remains committed to advancing international cultural and artistic cooperation while expanding its global network of cultural partnerships. Looking ahead, CECCI will continue to embrace the principles of openness and collaboration, leveraging international platforms such as the Asia-Europe Culture & Arts Development Forum and the Festival Off Avignon to connect high-quality cultural and artistic resources from around the world. Through sustained efforts to promote international theatre exchange, nurture young artistic talent and facilitate cross-border cultural projects, CECCI will continue to enhance the forum's international influence and practical impact, creating new opportunities for global cultural dialogue and cooperation across the cultural and creative industries.
图片及内容版权归CECCI所有，如发现侵权或盗用行为将追究法律责任
All images and content are the property of CECCI. Any unauthorised use or infringement will result in legal action.