On October 19, 2016, Sino-Japanese Art Museum Directors’ Forum was held in Wuhan Art Museum. Directors of several art museums in Wuhan and the Director of Oita Prefectural Art Museum (Japan) have made a discussion on topics related to public education.

　　According to Fan Feng, the Director of Wuhan Art Museum and a famous painter, the public education has become the most important social function of Wuhan Art Museum. He said, “There were only 9 public educational activities all the year round when Wuhan Art Museum was newly established in 2008. However, over 110 public educational activities have been organized by this Museum during the first three quarters of 2016.” According to statistics, about 700 public educational activities have been organized by Wuhan Art Museum for about 100000 people since its establishment.

　　In 2012, “Drawing Pictures of Wuhan on Subways”, a large public educational event organized by Wuhan Art Museum, was awarded as a “Nationally Supported Key Public Educational Program of Art Museums”. What’s more, “Let’s Enjoy the Beauty of Watercolour in Wuhan” was organized in 2014 and the “Lightening the Life of Children of Stars with Art” was held in 2015 by Wuhan Art Museum respectively. Those two initiatives have been honored as the “National Excellent Public Educational Program of Art Museums” for two consecutive years.

　　“We have been advocating for the concept of “cultivating artistic citizens for the future”. We need to educate both normal and exceptional children. For example, we have hired professional teachers to tailor various art programs, including the painting class and handicraft class, for autistic children during the public educational event of “Lightening the Life of Children of Stars”. This event was held in the forenoon of every Sunday. It has been organized for over 100 times since it was firstly held in April 2014, contributing to 1000 pieces of works in total. Wuhan Art Museum has organized a small-scale exhibition for those works specially. Those exceptional children have found their way to direct their emotions with the help of painting and other methods. Many of them have become confident after their potentials are unlocked,” Said Fan Feng whose speech has won warm applause.

　　Jian Zhang (Director of Oita Prefectural Art Museum in Japan), Ji Shaofeng (Director of Hubei Museum of Art), Lu Hong (Director of United Art Museum), and Wang Xinyao (Director of Tanghu Art Museum) have shared their experiences and ideas about how to give play to the role of art museums in public education. 

　　Wuhan Art Museum and Oita Prefectural Art Museum (Japan) have entered into an agreement to carry out a wide range of cooperation in the field of public education.
 
 
Link: http://cjrb.cjn.cn/html/2016-10/20/content_5566722.htm
　　http://news.cjn.cn/24hour/wh24/201610/t2909003.htm