At 9 am of 20 May 2022, the 7th 520 Nanjing University of the Arts Carnival was opened in the Art Museum Square.

School leaders from Nanjing University of the Arts (NUA) and Nanjing Sport Institute (NSI) participated in the opening ceremony, including Yu Feng, Zhang Linghao, Xie Jianming, Li Xiangmin, Zhan Heping, Zhang Jie, and Chen Yongmei (leaders of NUA), Shen Yizhen (Standing Committee Member of the Communist Party/the Minister of the United Front Work Department of NUA), Ji Aiming (Standing Committee Member of the Communist Party/the Minister of the Publicity Department of NUA), Xu Lijun (Standing Committee Member of the Communist Party of Nanjing Sport Institute/the Minister of the Publicity Department of NSI/the Minister of the United Front Work Department of NSI), Lu Chunlong (Deputy Principle of the School of Gymnastic of NSI/Deputy Director of Jiangsu Gymnastics Management Centre), Luo Xiaojuan (Deputy Principle of the School of Table Tennis and Badminton/Leader of Badminton Team). Along with them, the leaders of other departments and schools of NUA as well as staff and student delegates participated in this event. The opening ceremony was hosted by Xie Jianming, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and the Vice President of NUA.

Yu Feng, Secretary of the Party Committee of NUA, emphasised in his speech that over the past seven years, NUA has upheld the concept and pursuit of “One Exhibition of the University, One Feast for the City”, fully demonstrating the university’s achievements and graduates’ artistic talents. By sharing beauty, spreading beauty, and leading beauty, NUA has taken the social responsibility and managed to turn the exhibition into a cultural phenomenon and cultural symbol of the city. The exhibition has successfully achieved a deep integration with the cultural development of the city and the culture of  its citizens, faithfully put into practice what President Xi Jinping pointed out, “Art should play an important role in serving the economic and social development and better serve people’s needs for a high quality of life.” Yu Feng pointed out that, when facing the pandemic, the graduates of NUA bravely overcame the difficulties, continued to create, and maintained a high standard of art. With dedication and hard-working, they used their practical actions to interpret the spirit of NUA, “Grandeur, brevity, profoundity, beauty, and unlimited changes”, and used their outstanding art works to demonstrate the artistic standard and spirit of NUAers.

Speech by Yu Feng, Secretary of the Party Committee of NUA

NUA  campus is transformed into “an art gallery without a roof”, with over 1000 pieces of artworks being appreciated by the whole community in “an art gallery without borders”, showing the university’s achievements and students’ learning outcomes to wider range of audiences.

Yu Feng urged the students to continue to maintain their faith and love for art, to live a wonderful life with their youth, and to hold up the colourful sky for NUAers on the grand stage of building a country with a strong socialist culture.

Yu Feng being interviewed by the media

Zhang Linghao, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of NUA, pointed out that in the current times, NUA not only need to win “the big battle” of building a high-level university, but also should write “the big article” of “building an international first-class comprehensive art university with Chinese characteristics in the new era”. This year’s carnival is based on the theme of  “110 Years of Beautiful History and Unlimited Bright Future”, standing on a new development stage of the university, implementing a development concept, integrating with a new development pattern. With courage and innovation, staff and students from NUA worked together with each other to overcome the difficulties of the pandemic and create a new exhibition mode, and ensured that the exhibition could happen on time.

Speech by Zhang Linghao, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of NUA

This carnival was a graduation gift to the graduates from NUA. It is hoped that this special ceremony could leave the deepest wishes and expectations in the heart of the graduates, and give them the strength to run on the track of youth.

This year, NUA will celebrate its 110th anniversary. At the opening ceremony, Yu Feng and Zhang Linghao unveiled the logo for the 110th anniversary of NUA together. The logo was designed by the team led by Professor He Fang from the School of Design of NUA.

Yu Feng and Zhang Linghao unveil the logo

The 110th NUA anniversary logo

Lu Chunlong, the trampoline champion in the Beijing Olympic, and Luo Xiaojuan, the fencing champion in the London Olympic, sent special regards to the graduates of NUA, expressing their congratulations on the the 520 NUA Carnival and wishing a bright future for the university. The two Olympic champions also brought a dance programme, Olympic Light, together with the staff and students from NUA.

Speech by Lu Chuanlong and Luo Xiaojuan

Xue Feng, a teacher from the School of Media Arts and Communication, Pan Lijia, an undergraduate student from the School of Dance, and Ding Bo, a doctoral student from the School of Music, gave speeches as the delegates of teachers and students.

Speech by Xue Feng, a teacher from the School of Media Arts and Communication

Speech by Pan Lijia, an undergraduate student from the School of Dance

Speech by Ding Bo, a doctoral student from the School of Music

After the opening ceremony, an outdoor exhibition of graduation works in art, design, and media covering over 30 undergraduate and postgraduate majors turned the entire NUA campus into a super art gallery without a roof. Outdoor performances in music, dancing, and performance also brought a unique treat for all the audiences.