On the evening of October 18, 2024, the 8th China Ceramic Creative Week and the “New Cultural Practices” Summit kicked off at the Meitao Bay Cultural and Creative Industry Cluster in Foshan, Guangdong.

During the opening ceremony, the event showcased various exhibitions, including the “Vibrant Clay” – the 12th “Shiwa Cup” International Young Ceramic Sculpture and Building Ceramics Art Competition, an exhibition featuring foreign artist Mark Luthar, the 2024 Meitao Bay Public Art Season, the “Living with the City” exhibition at Meitao Window, and various events at local art museums and fashion design displays focusing on new Chinese styles.

The 12th “Shiwa Cup” competition attracted participation from over 1,064 young artists across more than 30 countries, receiving a total of 1,526 works from the entrants.

At the opening ceremony, the government of Foshan’s Chancheng District emphasized the deep integration of culture and industry, announcing the launch of the “Star Show Plan” and the “Industry and Art Integration Plan.” The “Star Show Plan” aims to establish Chancheng as a pilot economic zone for the home furnishings industry, with the China Ceramics City as a core showcase and Meitao Bay as a central exhibition area. This initiative includes creating a service platform for the home decor economy, linking various resources, and building a comprehensive media brand to attract premieres, product launches, and the establishment of flagship stores to Chancheng.

The “Industry and Art Integration Plan” will bring in 100 artists and designers annually, provide 100 low-cost spaces, and develop 100 industry-art integration intellectual property initiatives, all aimed at fostering the synergy of industry and art with a global perspective.

This year’s China Ceramic Creative Week is being held in conjunction with the 41st China (Foshan) International Ceramic and Sanitary Ware Exposition, also known as the Foshan Ceramic Fair, and the 2024 Chancheng Urban Renewal Meeting and Creative Leaders Growth Program announcement. The Foshan Ceramic Fair, which opened on the 18th, occupies over 500,000 square meters and features approximately 800 exhibitors, with an expected transaction value surpassing 100 million yuan.

On the morning of the 19th, nearly 150 curators, designers, and artists from across the country gathered for the Creative Leaders Growth Program announcement at the Urban Style Conference, where the “1+3+6” growth strategy for urban style leaders was unveiled.