̽��ֱ��

Local and international talent were in action to celebrate the launch of Eastern Exchanges, the region’s contribution to Stories of the World, one of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad’s headline projects.

As part of the project, internationally renowned Chinese artist Chen Hong will undertake a three-month residency in the region. ̽��ֱ��festivities marked the start of a major two-year programme of cultural activities across the East of England leading up to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Eastern Exchanges is one of the most ambitious Stories of the World strands with seven interconnecting projects involving museums, archives and community groups across the region. ̽��ֱ��idea of exchange lies at the heart of the programme, which will explore and celebrate the region’s links with China, India and Pakistan. People, places, objects, ideas and experiences will be brought together to inspire and energise. Activities include:

• Major international exhibitions of Chinese treasures at the Fitzwilliam Museum and Colchester Castle
• China in the East: an exhibition on China touring the region’s museums
• Changing Lives: A cultural exchange programme with young people from Essex and Jiangsu Province
• Making Memories: An oral history project involving young people and the Chinese community in Essex
• Truck Art: A community art project in Luton to decorate a Bedford truck in the Pakistani folk tradition
• Material Response: Contemporary artists from China and India engaging with collections in East of England museums and with local communities and artists from the East of England reciprocating
• Recording the Legacy: Building a filmed archive of the project

Central to Eastern Exchanges will be the region’s young people, helping to create exhibitions, collect memories and reinterpret collections.

Mr Chen’s residency in the UK gets the whole project off to an auspicious start. Regarded as a cultural treasure in his homeland, Mr Chen is an expert and eloquent painter of traditional Chinese motifs, particularly famous for his images of fish. During his residencies at the Fitzwilliam, Mr Chen will give public demonstrations and painting workshops, as well as responding to the fine collections in the museum. His presence will also act as a catalyst for Eastern Exchanges’ ambition to act as a bridge between artists and the public, and between cultures and different generations as Timothy Potts, Director of the Fitzwilliam, explains.

He said: “We are delighted to welcome Chen Hong and the opportunities his residency brings us, in partnership with others, to explore with our users our collections and the cultures and traditions they represent. ̽��ֱ��Fitzwilliam Museum and ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge have been building bridges between Cambridge and China for some time. We are delighted that the Cultural Olympiad, through Stories of the World, allows us to join our efforts with those of our partner museums in the Region in Eastern Exchanges.”

��