Today, as the Covid-19 pandemic has reshaped the performing arts industry, there are many questions to be answered and many experiences to be shared. For example, how can traditional performing arts attract young audiences? How to innovate while keeping classic plays alive? How can digital technology empower innovation in stage performance? In this context, the 2022 Beijing Forum for Performing Arts, hosted by the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), took place with both online and in-person participation at the NCPA Taihu Arts Centre on the evening of December 8.

Under the theme "Revitalizing the Performing Arts: Tradition and Innovation", the Forum focused on three sub-themes: "New Concepts -- Fostering the Future of the Performing Arts Industry", "New Expressions -- Exploring Innovative Artistic Expressions" and "New Perspectives -- Stimulating Artistic Vitality". More than 200 representatives of the performing arts industry from 30-plus countries gathered online to discuss how to break new ground for the innovative development of the industry.

"Nothing can stop the aspiration for exchange and communication among art institutions. The graver the challenges we face, the more important it is to share the information. When face-to-face communication becomes difficult, art institutions should be all the more committed to their duties with actions to ease public anxiety and comfort people with the great power of art." said Wang Ning, President of the NCPA. Not long ago, the NCPA delegation was invited to visit four European cities and met with a number of well-known art institutions and agencies, "This also makes us more convinced that higher-level opening up and regular exchanges and mutual learning are the key to sustained prosperity of the opera industry. We sincerely hope that in the next two days, everyone can propose new ideas, share the latest developments and create new growth engines, and work together for a bright future," added Wang.

In the evening, the "2022 Taihu International Stage Art Forum", jointly hosted by the NCPA and the China Institute of Stage Design, was also held online, where Chinese and foreign experts shared the latest progress and experience in digital innovation and development of stage art in terms of its creation, technology, and communication.

Lu Yingchuan, vice minister of culture and tourism, and Yang Jinbai, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Vice Mayor of Beijing, attended the opening ceremony via video link.

(Reporter: Gao Qian)