CULTURAL EXPORTS: Performance

Model innovation

Fledgling enterprises are also making their presence known at this year's Culture in Focus.

Chinese Culture Publishing Center in Africa, the first of its kind, is a joint venture between Zhejiang Publishing United Group and the University of Nairobi. It recently held its opening ceremony in the Kenyan capital. So far, the center has donated 2,000 books to the university's library.

The China Disabled People's Performing Arts Troupe has also garnered attention. Between April 12 and May 6, 51 troupe members gave 11 live shows in five African countries. In places like Senegal and Ghana, the troupe won high praise from both officials and spectators.

After watching the troupe's performances, Ghanaian Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture Alexander Asum-Ahensah said he appreciated and admired the mental strength, perseverance and courage of the Chinese artists with disabilities. He felt Ghanaians need to learn a lot of things from the artists. The hope was that the disabled people's arts troupes of the two sides would take this opportunity to exchange and learn from each other.

The troupe demonstrated their courage, devotion and team spirit. What is even more precious is that in the spirit of self-reliance and love of art, the artists with disabilities show miracles to the world, according to Mahendra Mahess Gowreesoo, Mauritian Minister of Arts and Culture. The China Disabled People's Performing Arts Troupe depends on ticket sales to survive. But in Africa it took a different approach, giving exchange and charity performances, participating in celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship between China and Ghana and the Harare International Festival of the Arts. The troupe also gave some commercial performances, which covered part of its costs. In a step toward market-focused cultural exchange, it's the first time that the troupe has given commercial performances in Africa.

"Though we are a professional performing troupe, earning money is not the aim of our African tour," explains Wang Longyan, the troupe's deputy director. "As cultural ambassadors, we want to contribute to the local efforts for people living with disabilities."

The troupe donated 100,000 yuan ($15,456) of its proceeds and on-site fundraising in Ghana to local disability initiatives; in South Africa, 50,000 rand ($7,285) went toward employment training for the disabled.