Suzhou New District published measures on May 12 to promote the inheritance and innovative development of Su embroidery.
The district will stimulate the high-quality development of its Su embroidery industry from talent cultivation, creative works, industry development, and organizational support.
The measures clearly state that in SND, on the basis of the existing talent pool, efforts will be made to accelerate school-industry cooperation, talent training, on-the-job training, and public experiential learning, in order to establish a multi-level talent training system for Su embroidery. The district will support the establishment of Su embroidery classes and clubs in primary and secondary schools, and encourage practitioners of Su embroidery to teach Su embroidery knowledge and skills in schools. Employment training will be conducted, and support will be provided for the construction of public training bases. Those newly recognized as public training bases for high-skilled talents in SND will receive a one-time subsidy of 200,000 yuan ($28,000). Practitioners of Su embroidery will be encouraged to pursue educational advancement and will be eligible for a maximum subsidy of 10,000 yuan for educational advancement.
SND will also support the creation of Su embroidery works, encouraging original design of Su embroidery works and the development of cultural and creative products. By combining with other artistic disciplines and collaborating with cross-industry brands, efforts will be made to enhance the practicality and contemporaneity of Su embroidery works. The district will regularly organize exhibitions and seminars for original works, providing exhibition and communication platforms for young and middle-aged female embroiderers. Su embroidery practitioners will be encouraged to participate in events such as the China Import and Export Fair and China (Hangzhou) Fine Arts Fair with the aim of promoting their outstanding original works internationally.
In terms of introducing leading enterprises and building carriers for Su embroidery and related cultural industries, the measures propose that for newly invested projects in SND's Su embroidery and related cultural industries with an actual investment of 10 million yuan or more, financial support of up to 10 percent of the actual investment amount with a maximum of 5 million yuan can be provided.
As the main birthplace of the national intangible cultural heritage Su embroidery, SND has always attached great importance to the inheritance and development of Su embroidery. By the end of 2020, the district had over 8,400 craftsmen engaged in embroidery and related industries, with an annual sales revenue of over 1 billion yuan in Su embroidery industry. To deepen the study and education of Party history and promote innovative development of the Su embroidery industry, the district has prioritized the implementation of the I Act for Embroiderers project as part of its I Act for the People initiative.
Zhu Xihong, director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Working Committee of Suzhou New District, stated that Su embroidery has always been a brand of Suzhou New District, a splendid business card of Suzhou's culture, and an outstanding representative of Jiangnan culture. Next, the district will rely on a series of newly introduced measures to better serve and support talents in Su embroidery, promote the protection and inheritance of Su embroidery culture, and drive innovation and development of the Su embroidery industry.
