On May 21st, the journalist learned from a news conference that the 7th National College Students’ Art Performance (NCSAP) will be held from June 12th to June 18th in Xiangyang, Hubei Province, and it will be the first NCSAP held in a non-provincial capital city.

NCSAP is jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Education and the Hubei Provincial People's Government and co-organized by the Department of Education of Hubei Province and Xiangyang Municipal People's Government. Over 7,400 teachers and students in 282 projects from 31 provinces or districts or cities, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Regin, and the Macao Special Administrative Regin come to participate.

In this year’s NCSAP, 225 live art performances including 57 vocal performances, 42 instrumental performances, 62 dancing performances, 34 drama performances, and 30 recitation performances will be put on the stage. At the same time, the workshop on students’ art practice will provide 57 works, about 300 works of art will be exhibited, and 93 excellent cases of reform and innovation in aesthetic education in universities will be discussed in groups on site. During the period of NCSAP, the opening and closing ceremonies, special exhibitions for artistic performance projects, the exhibition of works of art, and the exhibition of fruits of the workshop on students’ art practice, the reporting meeting of excellent cases of reform and innovation in aesthetic education in universities, and the national symposium on aesthetic education will be held. Meanwhile, focusing on five themes, teachers and students will be organized to attend social practice activities for college students, etc.

It has been known that since 2004, NCSAP has been held every three years, and it has become the most high-profile and influential art performance of college students on the largest scale in China. Themed at “Cherishing Patriotic Sentiments and Nurturing Enterprising Characters”, the 7th NCSAP will be divided into 3 stages including activities carried out by colleges, a concentrated display of provincial-level performances, and the national live performances. The main arrangement of the 7th NCSAP is as follows:

The Opening Ceremony

Time: At 19:30 on June 12th 

Venue: The Sports Center of the Xiangyang Academy in Huazhong Agricultural University

Contents: lasting 90 minutes including the Warm-up Performance, the Entrance Ceremony, the Opening Ceremony, and Art Performances

The Closing Ceremony

Time: At 19:30 on June 17th 

Venue: The Sports Center of the Xiangyang Academy in Huazhong Agricultural University

Contents: lasting 90 minutes including the Closing Ceremony and Art Performances

Live Vocal Performances

Time: From June 13th to June 15th

Venue: The Music Hall of the Xiang Library

Contents: 57 programs, divided into 3 sessions

Live Instrumental Performances

Time: From June 13th to June 16th

Venue: The Xiangyang Theater

Contents: 42 programs, divided into 4 sessions

Live Dancing Performances

Time: From June 13th to June 15th

Venue: The Art Center of College Students of the Xiangyang Academy in Huazhong Agricultural University

Contents: 62 programs, divided into 3 sessions

Live Drama Performances

Time: From June 13th to June 16th

Venue: The Science Meeting Hall of Xiangyang Auto Vocational Technical College

Contents: 34 programs, divided into 4 sessions

Live Recitation Performances

Time: From June 13th to June 16th

Venue: The Science Meeting Hall of Xiangyang Auto Vocational Technical College

Contents: 30 programs, divided into 4 sessions

The Live Show of the Workshop on Students’ Art Practice

Time: From June 13th to June 17th

Venue: The Mass Fitness Center in the Sports Center for the People of Xiangyang 

Contents: 57 works divided into 4 parts including art and technologies, art and campuses, art and life, and art and beautiful villages

Time: From June 13th to June 17th

Venue: The Mass Fitness Center in the Sports Center for the People of Xiangyang 

Contents: about 300 works of art, including microfilms, students’ drawings, students’ designs, students’ photography works, students’ calligraphy and seal cutting works, and calligraphy, painting, and photography works by presidents of colleges

The emblem, the flag, the theme song, and the mascots of the 7th NCSAP have all been launched, showcasing the dynamics of the youth and the charm of arts through their “Xiangyang elements”.

The Emblem

The emblem, the loge of the 7th NCSAP, inherits the main elements from previous ones. Against a background of three primary colors (red, green, and blue), it showcases the motif and aim of the 7th NCSAP. At the same time, based on preserving the original public recognition, a second creation has been carried out on the structure of the Chinese character “Yi”, improving the ribbon design of “Yi” to make the entire logo more vivid.

The Chinese characters of “The 7th National College Students’ Art Performance” are written in Mi Fu’s calligraphy. There are three reasons: firstly, calligraphy is an artistic expression to show the beauty of Chinese characters, which is importantly conveyed through NCSAP. Mi Fu’s calligraphy is full of artistic beauty that can combine with the entire structure of the emblem organically to show the beauty of the youth of NCSAP. Secondly, as a kind of Chinese traditional artistic and cultural heritage, calligraphy intensively conveys the spirit, value, and strength of China. Thirdly, Mi Fu was born in Xiangyang. Thus, using his calligraphy in the logo can show the profound cultural heritage of Xiangyang where the 7th NCSAP will be held.

It is important to fully consider the unity and coherence of design in visual elements. So, it is a good idea to design creative auxiliary elements within the crafty structure of “Yi” at their core. The pattern of “Yi” is like the pattern of the Chinese Character “QI” and a flying ribbon, and the shape of the Han River in Xiangyang. At the same time, the pattern of “Yi” is decorated by silhouettes of landmarks of the Xiangyang Gulongzhong area and Zhaomingtai, which makes the pattern more profound and meaningful.

The dominant hue of the logo is the Cloisonne color, showing the natural freshness of the college students. While combing with the colorful and abstract “Yi”, the logo makes people feel its enthusiasm, activeness, flexibility, and artistic effects visually, and it showcases the dynamics of youth and the diversities of art.

The Flag

Based on the concept of “colorful and dynamic youth”, the flag makes colorful ribbons as its main pattern elements. Colorful ribbons interweave with each other, providing a natural and flexible visual effect. Ribbons dancing in rhythm airily express the dynamics and the freedom spirit of youth. The red-orange color on it means the youth get artistic improvement through unremitting efforts. With a rising satellite and the bright sun, the pattern of the background of the flag stands for the upward strength and enterprising spirit of the college students.

The Theme Song

The theme song is named “The Sea of Youth”. Its lyrics celebrate aesthetic education elements including “aesthetic education nurturing behavior”, “the orientation of beauty”, “the College Students’ Art Village” and “singing for the people” and show the features of performances. Its tune is dynamic; its melody is high-spirited; and it is easy to remember and to sing.

Mascots

Mascots of the 7th NCSAP are “Little Crouching Dragon” and “Little Phoenix”.

The creation inspiration for “Little Crouching Dragon” is from the Gentleman of Crouching Dragon, Zhu Geliang, the hero of the story of “Three Visits to the Hut” that happened in Gulongzhong, Xiangyang, during the Three Kingdoms Period. Combining elements including the walls of the Xiang Ancient City, the feather fan of the Gentleman of Crouching Dragon, and waves in the Han River, “Little Crouching Dragon” is in gold and China’s classical bronze. The image of Loong creatively combines with cultural elements of Xiangyang, showing the vibrant and beautiful image of Chinese college students of today.

Based on the phoenix, a symbol in the ancient Jing-chu culture, “Little Phoenix” absorbs images of young students of the 7th NCSAP and combines elements including the walls of the Xiang Ancient City, waves in the Han River, the Crouching Dragon and the Young phoenix, festival flowers, and the logo. The cartoon image of “Little Phoenix” is shown in vermilion and golden color, which is a fruit of creatively combining the image of a phoenix with cultural elements of Xiangyang. It presents the college students’ historic mission of developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and making the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation come true.

To provide high-quality services to guarantee the 7th NCSAP, Xiangyang has called up 1,500 volunteers from 5 colleges to provide 7 types of volunteer services including on-site guidance and consultation, venue etiquette services, guest contacts and receptions, news promotion assistance, the management of exhibition layout, airport pick-up and drop off services, and administrative supports.