In order to promote cultural exchanges and cooperation, the 2015 Jinqiao Cross-Straits folk art festival will take place from October 16 to October 20 in Xiamen. The festival is hosted by the Chinese Culture Association, the Xiamen Municipal People’s Government and the Cultural Department of Fujian Province.

A press conference for the 2015 Cross-Straits Folk Art Festival was held in 9th, October. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The theme of this year’s festival is “Teenagers and Traditional Art”. Approximately 850 people will attend, including 9 art performing arts teams from Taiwan, 10 from mainland China, 60 experts and scholars as well as cultural figures from eastern China. To attract more teenage viewers, the festival has invited theatrical productions from both Taiwan and the mainland, including Taiwan Opera, Gaojia Opera and puppet shows. Moreover, seminars, educational programs and exhibitions will be carried out to promote exchanges.

The cross-Straits folk art festival is listed as a key Taiwan exchange program by the Cultural Department and Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. Since the establishment in 2004, the festival has been held for 11 consecutive years and took place in Taiwan for the first time last June. Beginning with a small exchange program of Taiwan Opera and Southern Music, the festival has developed to a large cultural exchange including operas, dances, music, folk arts and arts education.