<interview> Art Management in China (2)
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), 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)".
Guangzhou Tower, China, 2019
Qin
As you may have heard, Japanese museums and theaters are operated under the "Designated Administrator System".
Chisai
I know, in Japan, this system is foundation or companies, they name "culture" and "art" with "region", isn't it?
Qin
That's right. "Operation" in Japanese art management is that they take root in their areas of museums and theaters. Museums and theaters are located to boost the culture of their area.
However, China does not have a system with the same name or content. We China has "Yuan xian zhi".
Chisai
"Yuan xian zhi"? What is it?
Qin
In short, "Yuan xian zhi" shares the management of several cinemas and theaters. To do this, the same "Yuan xian zhi" companies manage several facilities across China.
Chisai
How many theaters are there in China?
Qin
There are probably more than 1,000 all over China.
Whether it is music or play, performing a few times only in a weekend is not a good cost performance.
But since the "Yuan xian zhi" manages theaters all over the country, it is possible to develop one performance nationwide, from Beijing to Shanghai, to Guangzhou and to other cities.
Chisai
It is not management of the performance unit, but management including theaters, right?
Qin
Exactly. For example, one of "Yuan xian zhi" companies "Beijing Poly Theatre Management Co., Ltd (Poly Theatre)" probably manages more than 70 theaters nationwide. In general, there are three categories in stage dimension: large, medium and small. These are common types in the world, regardless of the country or population (it doesn't matter that China has a large population!).
There is also the idea of what to perform in these theaters. Or we have another thought, we will be performing that performance in a large theater in Beijing, so we can open it at a same size theater in Shanghai too. That is, if many companies run theaters, it would be easier to schedule a performance for one performance, wouldn't it?
Chisai
Doesn't the genre matter?
Qin
Yes. The programs vary. For example, they have both traditional and modern. One day there is theater stage, another day there is music hall.
Chisai
Hearing it, I think "managing" is difficult issue.
Qin
It's hard to "manage" as well as "operate". Let's talk about that next time!
~~~previous <interview> Art Management in China (1)