By Eric Nicolson

CULTURAL LINKS between Perthshire and the city of Haikou in China’s Hainan province are to be strengthened as a result of local artists being given the opportunity to exhibit their work in China.

The Chinese Consul General visited Perth Museum and Art Gallery this week as the collection of work by Perthshire artists were packed for transportation.

Perth provost John Hulbert said, “Perth’s developing relationship with Haikou has been a very special part of the council’s work over the past few years to look to the east and to China’s increasingly open welcome to the western world.

“School pupils across Perth and Kinross will be the people who—in a few years time—will be best placed and poised to take up the amazing opportunities that this offers.

“Our arts development team have been working with the Ricefield Gallery in Glasgow and other partners to bring a taste of Chinese language, lifestyle and art to secondary school pupils—offering them a tantalising and fascinating glimpse of a tremendously rich and ancient culture.

“Thanks to this work, the Xiantan University’s Baishi Institute invited Perth and Kinross Council to exhibit at a the second Qi Baishi International Cultural Festival there in September, and we have worked with some local artists to prepare this exhibition.

“This is a major exhibition in China, and will be attended by some of China’s greatest living artists and other high profile members of the cultural community.

“In a world that has become very small over the past few decades, it is easy to forget that there are still such hugely different ways of seeing the world and of thinking about the world.

“Language can often stand in the way of understanding but art is a language of its own that all peoples everywhere can understand.”

The delegation will comprise three artists, two council officers and a representative from the Scottish National Gallery.

Chief Executive Bernadette Malone said, “This is really a great honour for us and, in the year before the Beijing Olympics, our artists are serving as unique cultural ambassadors.

“Their work and the work that they do in our communities will be showcased in such a way that will bring Perth and Kinross to the attention of many people in China.

“This is a great opportunity for us to show how we as a council do things, but it is also a great opportunity for us to open a door for our business and tourism sectors.”

China’s consul general Tan Xiutian said, “This is the first time that Scottish artists have organised a formal visit to China.

“I think it’s very helpful to our bilateral cultural communication and will raise the profile of Scottish art in China—it will be a milestone to our cultural links.

“Next year across the UK Chinese culture will be celebrated in China Now 2008, and I believe more Scottish people will become interested in Chinese classical and contemporary art and in our diverse culture.”

“I am sure the Chinese will show the same interest in Scottish culture and art.”

Provost Hulbert thanked Ms Tan and all of her staff at the Chinese consul for all the hard work they had done in ensuring the preparations for the visit went smoothly. He also thanked staff at Glasgow’s Ricefield Gallery for their support.

The exchange is being organised in partnership with the private sector and significant interest has been shown by potential sponsors keen to be associated with the event.

Anyone who would like to discuss sponsorship opportunities should contact Gordon Lynn on 01738 477846 or Kirsty Duncan on 01738 477835.