RESEARCH REPORT FOR PERFORMING ART THEATRES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SKILLS AND HIGHER EDUCATION NEEDS IN CHINA JUNE, 2016 Research Report on Performing Arts Theatres Professional Project Name Development Skills and Higher Education Needs in China Project Delivery Period June Commissioned by The British Council China Researcher Theatre Management Department, Central Academy of Drama 1 1 | P a g e CONTENTS I. Introduction and Research Methodology ............................................................. 3 1. Research Objective ......................................................................................... 3 2. Research Approach ........................................................................................ 3 3. Research Methodology ................................................................................... 4 4. Report Structure .............................................................................................. 5 II. Status Quo of Professional Theatres of Performing Arts in China ................. 6 1. Background of the theatre infrastructure boom .......................................... 6 2. Update on theatre construction boom .......................................................... 7 3. Theatre operation today ................................................................................. 8 4. Theatre professionals ................................................................................... 10 5. Policy factors affecting theatre development ............................................ 11 III. Advanced Education of Professionals for Performing Theatres .................. 16 1. Status quo ....................................................................................................... 16 2. Challenges ...................................................................................................... 22 3. Strategy for the future ................................................................................... 24 IV. Skill Development of Performing Arts Theatre Professionals and Relevant Needs in China .......................................................................................................... 25 1. Future development of theatres and theatre professionals .................... 25 2. Skill gap among theatre professionals ....................................................... 25 3. Needs for human resources development ................................................ 27 V. Appendix ................................................................................................................ 33 Appendix 1: List of top universities of performing arts in China ................. 33 Appendix 2: List of top theatres of performing arts in China ....................... 34 2 2 | P a g e I. Introduction and Research Methodology 1. Research Objective As the cultural environment improves further, the theatre scene in China has also thrived. The mix of theatre professionals and their specialist skills have also undergone remarkable changes, which in turn will promote the progress of the industry. Therefore, placing emphasis on the demand of theatre practitioners for professional skills development is highly relevant. This report aims to examine, analyze and evaluate the infrastructure of professional performing theatres and the related higher education and to identify the needs for professional skill development and higher education for the practitioners of theatres in China. 2. Research Approach There is a unique political, economic and cultural context to the rise of China’s theatre scene. It profoundly shapes the configuration and positioning of theatres in China. Given China’s distinctive cultural traits, government and policy direction play a critical role in the development of theatres. Therefore, to understand the current status of the theatre industry, it is necessary to study the context and relevant policies. As a result of the interplay of different factors, China’s theatre industry has demonstrated “a strong momentum yet lackluster stamina”. One of the most critical weaknesses is talent. China faces a serious shortage of theatre practitioners with qualified skills. This problem stems from the gap in professional education, which not only leads to career obstacles for theatre practitioners, but also undermines the development of the theatre industry as a whole. Therefore, only by understanding the cause and effect of theatre development and related higher education can we identify the skill gap in theatre professionals and their future needs. This is the overall research approach of this report. 3 3 | P a g e 3. Research Methodology Based on actual needs, the research team drafted a research outline and used it as a reference point in the collection of information and data from multiple sources. A combination of research methodologies was used for in-depth analysis to inform the final report. The research team mainly adopted the following methodologies: 1). Survey Survey is a common research methodology and consists of many survey tools. Based on actual conditions, the research team mainly chose interview and questionnaire. (I) Interview: The research team chose a sample of theatres from different categories as well as research institutes for interview, for example, the Beijing People’s Art Theatre Capital Theatre, Beijing Poly Theatre, Central Academy of Drama Experimental Theatre and Beijing Dao & Strategy Consulting Performance Industry Research Center. Interviews were conducted with their managers and frontline staff to glean truthful and research-worthy first-hand information. (II) Questionnaire: Due to access constraints, the research team was unable to interview directly theatres in remote locations. Therefore, the research team designed targeted questionnaires and distributed such questionnaires widely through the British Council. It also ran statistics and analysis on the questionnaires returned by the Shanghai Grand Theatre, Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center, Chongqing Fuling Grand Theatre, Cathay Pacific Art Center and Beijing Drum Tower West Theatre. 4 4 | P a g e 2). Literature The literature methodology is about collecting data by sifting through literature. It provides viable supplement for accurate and comprehensive understanding of the research subject. The research team widely scoured information sources in newspapers, periodicals and magazines, trade literature archives, trade association journals and government publications and delved into literature on the status of theatre infrastructure, theatre management, theatre professionals and higher education in theatre. It also looked into background information related to the theatre development in the context of cultural reform. Such information provided reference and backup for this report on both macro and micro levels. 3). Experience Summary Experience summary is among the most practical research methodologies and has many benefits such as being truthful, accurate and illustrative. The head of the research team has many years of experience working in theatre and teaching theatre classes in higher learning institutions. Based on his detailed description of theatre and teaching practices, the research team summarized and analyzed the status quo of theatres and related higher learning institutions and the professional qualifications of theatre talent. This coupled with academic theories and interviews and questionnaire results, gave a systematic and theoretic framework to the research. 4. Report Structure The report comprises three parts. The first part examines the status quo of theatres in China, including the background to the theatre infrastructure boom, theatre construction pipeline and the implications of cultural policies. The second part reviews the higher education sector in China for training theatre professionals, including the latest overview, existing challenges and future trends. The third part building on the 5 5 | P a g e first and second parts, deals with the trends of skill development, skill gap and future developmental needs of theatre practitioners. II. Status Quo of Professional Theatres of Performing Arts in China 1. Background of the theatre infrastructure boom Alongside rapid economic growth and people’s more sophisticated intellectual pursuit and cultural entertainment needs, China put forward a strategy of “strengthening the country through culture” on 18th October 2011, in the Sixth Plenary Meeting of the 17th China Communist Party Central Committee. Cultural reform and development was incorporated into the master plan of socio-economic development and became a key performance indicator (KPI) for various levels of the government and their leadership. A cultural boom quickly ensued. Owing to its prominent place in the cultural sphere, theatre became a preferred focus politically. The construction of professional theatre complexes (grand theatres) in China started in 1998, marked by the completion of the Shanghai Grand Theatre. Grand theatre construction proliferated across China, not just in tier-1 and tier-2 cities which had fully-equipped theatre buildings erected, but also prefecture and county-level cities. It is worth noting that regardless of the local economic condition, performance demand and viewership size, the theatres being built were largely extravagant large-scaled theatres. This added to both the upfront costs and the ongoing maintenance and management costs on the part of the government. Injecting vitality into such luxurious infrastructure