On the morning of November 16th, the 9th World Chinese Arts Education Symposium - Forum on Higher Arts Education opened at the Minlun Campus of Henan University (HENU). Present at the opening ceremony were nearly a hundred domestic and international experts, including Yang Guang, the Chief Supervisor of the Education Department Henan Province, Yang Mengya, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of HENU, Zhang Youyun, Chairman of the World Chinese Arts Education Association, Graeme Sullivan, a professor from the Pennsylvania State University, as well as representatives from HENU’s Social Sciences Department and the College of Fine Arts.

In his speech, Yang Guang emphasized that arts education is an important part of the comprehensive development of morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics and labor skills. The Education Department Henan Province has been deeply promoting arts education initiatives, aiming to enhance students’ aesthetic and humanistic qualities, and has basically established an integrated framework that includes classroom teaching and social practice. He noted that this symposium focuses on pressing issues in arts education in the age of artificial intelligence, facilitating exchanges and sharing experiences through a themed and content-rich international meeting. He expressed hope that the attending experts would actively offer suggestions to contribute valuable insights into the world Chinese arts education and Henan’s arts education efforts in schools, thereby promoting high-quality development of arts education in Henan.

Yang Mengya stated that HENU has a profound educational heritage and tradition in arts education. Over the past 70 years, the College of Fine Arts has nurtured numerous renowned artists and educators. Top global arts education experts, scholars, practitioners and artists gathered at HENU to share practices and innovative ideas in arts education from around the world, injecting new momentum into the development of arts education in China and globally.

Zhang Youyun highlighted the significant role of the World Chinese Arts Education Association in promoting cross-national academic exchanges and reforms and innovations in arts education. He pointed out that in the era of artificial intelligence, arts education should actively respond to the opportunities and challenges it brings. This symposium aims to facilitate idea exchanges around the theme of arts education transformation in the AI era, seeking effective strategies to meet these challenges. Moreover, he emphasized HENU’s crucial role in the inheritance and innovation of Central Plains culture, and expressed hope that through international cooperation, Chinese culture could be showcased on the vast stage of global arts education.

The invited guest representative, Yin Shaochun, pointed out the significance of the conference theme: “Creativity·Integration·Ecology: Transformations in Arts Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”. While AI brings innovative potential to arts education, educators should use traditional and modern technologies wisely without blind reliance. Professor Yin called on educators to focus on cultivating students’ artistic thinking and critical reasoning skills to promote their overall development. He believes that future arts education needs sustainable development to foster comprehensive student growth.

Chen Wenli discussed how arts education not only cultivates creativity and imagination but also inherits and promotes Chinese culture, enhancing national pride. In the era of artificial intelligence, it is essential to base education on cultural heritage and contemporary needs, and foster students’ innovative thinking and interdisciplinary integration capabilities. This will build an arts education system adapted to modern demands, and achieve innovative development of excellent traditional Chinese culture.

After the opening ceremony, attendees visited the College of Fine Arts for a group photo in front of the building and viewed the “Tracing Origins·Rebirth: An Invitation Exhibition for Hu Mingzhe’s Rock Painting Curriculum” on the first and second floors of the exhibition hall.

The symposium continued until November 17th. During this period, experts and scholars delivered nearly 50 insightful reports across various sub-venues, focusing on the main theme “Creativity·Integration·Ecology: Transformations in Arts Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” and seven sub-topics, exploring the significant impact of artificial intelligence on contemporary arts education.