A trial version of Suzhou private museum regulations will come into force on October 20, 2013. Set by the Suzhou municipal bureau of culture, radio, TV, film, press and publication and the Suzhou civil affairs bureau, the regulation is the first of its kind on the Chinese mainland.

There are 65 art museums in Suzhou of Jiangsu province at present, holding over 700 exhibitions every year for nearly 4 million visitors.

Suzhou has set up a cultural service system in cooperation with the local government and other organizations to meet the basic requirements of the people. However, the development of the art industry is still not moving quickly enough to fill spiritual and cultural demand. One of the most obvious problems is the lack of private museums.

An official said that the regulation is expected to encourage social organizations investing in private museums to promote culture in Suzhou.

The regulation includes 25 terms on issues such as the establishment, development, cancellation and attraction of exhibitions, as well as overseas exhibitions and yearly checks.

According to the regulation, a private museum should open to the public six months after it is registered, and the museum should be open no less than eight months a year.