<interview> Art Management in China (3)
Different countries and regions use the same word but mean differently. Today, Chisai will write about art management in China that everyone doesn't know unexpectedly.
Following (1) and (2), I talk with Jianlun Qin (覃剑伦).
Jianlun Qin (覃剑伦) studied art management at China and Japan. Now he lives in Guangzhou, China and works at a theater while providing art web magazine "Arts Management View (艺管界)".
Guangdong Museum of Art, photo: Chisai Fujita
Chisai
See the previous your interview (1) and (2), we know, art management is not only difficult to manage but also difficult to operate.
Qin
However, in the "art management" perspective, it does not really care about facilities as theater space. But “Theaterwissenschaft (theater studies)” that I studied in graduate school has the idea of what to put in theater space if it was considered an empty space.
Chisai
What do you mean?
Qin
It does not perform opera or orchestra in small theaters. Even if we regard the theaters as empty containers, we have to think a lot about the selection of performance. Even if there is no performance or the theater has no schedule, it will be a problem. So it is hard to manage. And there is also a difference in management between China and Japan.
Chisai
Is it because of the "Yuan xian zhi"?
Qin
Yes. For example, educational programs include "creating something education" and "appreciation education" for viewers. In China, it is often charged.
Chisai
Really!? Does communism take money?
Qin
Money has nothing to do with communism. This is also because of "Yuan xian zhi". The theory of Chinese art management wants to make money through educational programs as well as performances. Therefore, participants pay for both piano learning programs and choir participation programs.
Chisai
Right, most of those programs in Japan are almost free., it means political principles have nothing to do with it!
Qin
In Japan, it is called "citizen participation" or "collaboration", they are free or take a little.
Also, Japanese theaters have "artistic directors".
Chisai
Yes, I often see the word "artistic director" written on theater posters. Isn't it different from "the director of the theater"? What "artistic directors" do they do?
Qin
In Japan, the directors of theaters have administrative roles. And the "artistic directors" choose/decide performance, or communicate/make human networks. In China, there are very few "artistic directors".
Chisai
Because the "Yuan xian zhi" decides the performance program, I see.
It doesn't really matter that national principles of Japan and China are different. Rather for me, I thought that art management in China is based on the reasonable way and loves money.
Qin
The "Yuan xian zhi" is, however, not original in China. It was arranged in a Chinese style by introducing the American film system.
Chisai
Amazing! In fact, since starting Covid-19, I have been watching online art programs every day. In Chinese programs, I watch them using WeChat (Chinese SNS) and there are Chinese/English bilinguals, and foreigners participate there. I feel Chinese are brushing up without sticking to their own way of thinking and perspective. So, you say, it is easy for me to understand that "Yuan xian zhi" is based on the American film system.
Qin
However, China and Japan have common problems. Whether it is art world or theatrical world where I work, the salary is low!
Chisai
And it is not a weekend off, they are working days, right?
Qin
Exactly. Even if you're hired as a full-time employee, it's like a part-time job. This is, in China and Japan, we can understand each other the most.
~~~previous <interview> Art Management in China (2)
Next <interview> Art Management in China (4) ~~~