In September 2020, the Beijing Forum for Performing Arts (BFPA) was established during the Beijing Forum for Performing Arts 2020 initiated by the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA). On October 22, 2021, the Council of the BFPA held a video conference at the NCPA. Seven council members including National Centre for the Performing Arts, China, Teatro Colón, Stiftung Oper in Berlin, and Royal Opera House, Covent Garden attended the meeting and delivered speeches.

The past year has been unprecedentedly harsh for the performing arts industry around the world. The 2021 Council Meeting of the BFPA has been the first online meeting of the members of the BFPA since its establishment one year ago. Zhu Jing, Secretary General of the BFPA and Vice President of National Centre for the Performing Arts, China, presided over the meeting.

Wang Ning, Chairman of the BFPA and President of National Center for the Performing Arts, China, first reviewed the work of the BFPA since its establishment. With the joint efforts, the BFPA has taken shape as a platform for the exchange of world cultures and for efficient and pragmatic cooperation, with growing international influence and reputation. It has made positive contributions to the development of the world performing arts industry. The BFPA Council deliberated and approved the application of the Centro Cultural Kirchner in Argentina to join the BFPA. Up to now, a total of 26 international institutions from 17 countries have become members of the BFPA.

Prior to the Council meeting, Wang Ning held video conferences with the council members respectively and collected opinions from all the BFPA members by means of a questionnaire. He made a summary of the ideas and suggestions collected: "regaining public confidence" is the biggest challenge that everyone is facing at present; "successful experience in dealing with the pandemic" is the topic that everyone wants to discuss; and "digitalization and online broadcasting" is the area where everyone hopes to strengthen cooperation.

Then, the council members made speeches on the BFPA’s future work plan for 2022. George Vierthaler, General Director of Stiftung Oper in Berlin, looked forward to "more experience exchanges and case sharing on 'sustainable development' through resource integration"; Alex Beard, Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House, hoped to "learn from the pandemic when looking into the future, especially in strengthening cooperation in the field of digitalization"; Umberto Fanni, Director-General of Royal Opera House Muscat, believed that online live art courses could be designed to let people learn the story behind the theater and arouse the audience's curiosity...

The members had a full discussion and reached consensus that promoting the sustainable development of theaters is a common goal of the BFPA members, for which they shall explore scientific paths and methods; that as the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the performing arts industry, it is imperative they share their experience in how to attract more audiences into the theater; that as technology and digitalization have offered vast room of development for the industry, they should actively promote the integration between technology and art; that they need to introduce more eco-responsible choices into their performance forms and management models in the meantime of resuming in-person performances; and that they should make use of the communication platform of the BFPA, give full play to the routine communication mechanism of the BFPA Council, and jointly promote the development of the BFPA. Wang Ning proposed to focus on digital development and explore new technology application. He also put forward initiatives such as training young artists and holding youth art festivals for the work of the BFPA in 2022.

In his concluding remarks, Wang Ning said that in the future, the BFPA Secretariat will make every effort to provide more high-quality resources and services and carry out the BFPA’s work with high standards. He hoped that through the unremitting efforts of all members, the BFPA would continue to grow and develop.

(Reporter: Gao Qian)