The Second China National Arts and Crafts Education Conference commences on the charming Gulangyu Island in Xiamen. [Photo provided to gofujian.com]

The Second China National Arts and Crafts Education Conference commenced on the charming Gulangyu Island in Xiamen. The event, held alongside the Second National College Arts and Crafts Major Outstanding Graduation Exhibition, began on the morning of Oct 19, with the theme "New Quality Productive Force, New Intelligence in Arts and Crafts".

This gathering builds upon the mission set forth at the inaugural conference by delving into innovative paths forward for arts and crafts education. It aims to cultivate new leaders in the field, fostering a high-level platform for the exchange of ideas in arts and crafts with lasting impact.

The opening ceremony took place at the Pioneer Theatre on the Gulangyu campus of Fuzhou University's Xiamen Academy of Arts & Design.

Following the ceremony, six renowned leaders and scholars from domestic and international universities shared their insights on integrating arts with sciences, promoting interdisciplinary innovation and cooperation, and nurturing innovative talents in the arts and crafts for the new era.

Central to the agenda is the "An Exhibition, A Competition, A Discussion, and A Dialogue" framework. The Second National College Arts and Crafts Major Outstanding Graduation Exhibition at the Xiamen Art Gallery showcases 140 selected pieces, bridging traditional and contemporary crafts to highlight achievements in arts and crafts education in Chinese higher education.

The success of the event marks a new chapter for China's craft arts education, offering a platform to showcase achievements and chart future development paths.

Naren Barbield, former vice principal of the Royal College of Art (UK), delivers a speech. [Photo provided to gofujian.com]

Zhang Jixuan contributed to this story.