On the occasion of ICCIE 2015, large-scale exhibitions with diversified contents and forms are held both at the 55,000m2 main venue (China International Exhibition Center, which is divided into 16 halls) and at 17 sub-venues with a total exhibition area of about 190,000m2 (eight special sessions, eight district sessions and the 8,000m2 Yangzhou Session). Aside from the exhibitions, ICCIE 2015 will organize over 80 cultural interactions of different types (in the districts of Dongcheng, Xicheng, Haidian, Chaoyang, Fengtai, Fangshan, Shunyi and Daxing) and ten creative activities.
This year’s event further establishes ICCIE as a high-end, professional-looking, market-oriented and truly international Expo. It attracts the participation of a) 1,800-odd famed cultural and creative enterprises and institutions at home and abroad; b) delegations from 15 autonomous regions/provinces/cities including Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Anhui, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang and Chongqing; and c) exhibitors from three international organizations and 12 countries/regions including Russia, Hungary, Iran, Egypt, Argentina, Australia, Korea and India.
With the theme of “Promoting innovation, integration and cultural prosperity”, ICCIE 2015 is duty-bound to guide the development of Chinese cultural industry. The new aspects, characteristics and trends of cultural sectors can be seen in perspective through the lens of the Expo: The proactive alignment of cultural sectors in Jing-Jin-Ji cluster is opening up new vistas for regional cooperation; the integration of the entire cultural industry chain is spawning “industry clusters 5.0”; driven by the booming Internet culture, “culture plus” sectors are reshaping the industrial landscape; outstanding traditional culture turns out to be a bonanza for enterprises engrossed in the creation and use of cultural IPs and cultural brands; the “One Belt and One Road” (OBOR) initiative paves multiple ways for diversified cultural trade; and the massive wave of innovation and entrepreneurship gives scope to the creativity of youth. As transformation and upgrading are revving up significantly, the cultural industry is entering into a new era.
From innovative industrial chain to industry clusters 5.0
ICCIE serves no less as a driver of than as a window to the cultural industry, and ICCIE exhibitions owe their guiding role to the constellation of leading enterprises, institutional and management paradigms as well as new ideas, products, techniques and business models.
Here are some examples.
The omnimedia publishing chain charts the new course of high-end industrial development. At the Cultural & Creative Industry Gathering Cluster Zone Exhibition, Dongcheng District showcases its omnimedia publishing chain with well-distributed resources; Chineseall.com, Sun-tv.com.cn and the International Copyright Exchange pride themselves on the abundant copyright resources; Bgctv.com.cn, Enlight Media and Youshi001.com capitalize on new media; and Dangdang.com bills itself as a terminal operator.
At the Beijing Culture Exhibition, Artron Art Group presents, under the banner of “art@home”, the innovative business model which marries arts with technology and living and integrates art products and services along the entire industrial chain.
At the Exhibition of Provincial and Municipal Cultural and Creative Industries, Chengdu gives a tremendous buildup to the Eastern Suburb Memory · Internet-based Creative Park. As China’s first park of its kind developed by a media group, it adopts an operating mode integrating technical development, content production, publicity & release, smart terminal operation, data processing, business incubation and think tank support.
Another paradigm, more avant-garde and maybe more valuable than the integration of the entire industrial chain, is industrial ecosystem. At the Ten-Year Retrospective of ICCIE, Shang Ba, Honav and other typical enterprises share the stories of their growth with the Expo. The former turns Shang Ba Creative Park into a personalized space, a community, and eventually an industrial ecosystem where member companies can grow organically.
In fact, new explorations into innovative cultural parks have always been the primary theme of ICCIE exhibitions. The presence of dozens of cultural and creative parks and clusters based in 11 districts of Beijing, together with the National New Media Industrial Base, the Bird’s Nest Culture Center, the Ming Tombs Historical, Cultural and Creative Industry Cluster, the Creative Park for University Students and the Fun Capital, is fully indicative of the industrial trend towards high-end, functional clusters. The National Base for International Cultural Trade, in particular, is a trailblazer in large-scale, intensive, modernized cultural trade.
This year, the one and only National Cultural Industry’s Innovation Pilot Zone makes its first appearance at ICCIE. Covering an area of 78km2, the pilot zone translates cultural, financial and technical resources of the capital city into innovations in institutional framework, policy environment, market system, financial services, talent cultivation and growth models, thus establishing itself as a pioneer in retooling the cultural industry, a testing ground for cultural and economic policies, and a model of industrial integration and development. If the industrial ecosystem of Shang Ba Creative Park is defined as “industry cluster 4.0”, then the pilot zone marks the inauguration of “industry cluster 5.0”. Its gradual evolution from a building, a park, a cluster and a corridor epitomizes the constant upgrading of cultural and creative industry.
OBOR initiative shines together with the coordinated Jing-Jin-Ji cluster
The Belt and Road carries indication of both commercial and cultural identities; it is where hoary, preeminent civilizations resonate with modern settlements. By highlighting cultural sectors along the Belt and Road, ICCIE 2015 is seeking a cultural approach to international exchange.
Featured cultural sectors regard the Belt and Road as a potential goldmine, and folk cultures see ICCIE as a stepping stone to international markets. Xinjiang, a core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt, has organized 30 cultural enterprises to showcase their unique products, including Chinese paintings on gems and mulberry paper, folk arts and crafts, and original performances like the Thousand Turns of Western Region and In His Songs. It has also presented a costume show entitled the Gorgeous Silk of the Kunlun Mountain, and pitched a culinary project named A Bite of Xinjiang. Featuring cultural and creative products and folk handicrafts of five neighboring countries in Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan), the External Cultural Trade Exhibition is intended to parade Xinjiang’s proven track record in cultural trade and underscore its status as a channel for exporting Chinese culture.
Committed to a coordinated Jing-Jin-Ji cluster, Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei have for the first time pooled their cultural and creative resources at ICCIE. The performing arts and animations on display at the Beijing Culture Exhibition epitomize the cultural and creative developments of the cluster. The Tour around the City of Design extends the itinerary to the Grand Canal Tianjin Section and 12 “healthy homes” in Langfang, Hebei.
The Cultural Relics & Museum Related Creative Products Exhibition combines forces to showcase new-type, hi-tech museums and organize campaigns for coordinated cultural development of Jing-Jin-Ji cluster. Museums present at ICCIE 2015 include the Palace Museum, the Capital Museum, the Museum of Xizhou Yandu Site, the Art Museum of Stone Carvings, Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum, the Temple of Confucius and Guozijian Museum, Tianjin Museum, Shanghai Museum, Zhejiang Provincial Museum, Shanxi Museum, Hebei Museum, Langfang Museum and Zhuozhou Museum. The Jing-Jin-Ji ancient culture research campaign is set in motion to unveil the mystery of the ancient Yan state and promote coordinated regional cultural development.
Dongcheng District promotes in Tianjin the “creative workshops along hutongs”. As an extension of Dongcheng District Session, the 1st Tianjin Seminar on Maker Space & Founding Conference of Tianjin Nankai Maker Space Alliance is held in Tianjin to showcase the C92 Cultural and Creative Industry Park, the first park of its kind in Nankai District. The park has adopted the three-in-one operating mode (industry clusters + diversified value service system + capitalization) of Dongcheng District, committing itself to an emerging industry base integrating technology, media and telecommunications. Moreover, the park has teamed up with Tianjin Merchants Alliance to hold the Creative Bazaar, where ten-odd online retailers are invited to display and distribute their creative food and toys.
Driven by the booming Internet culture, “culture plus” sectors are reshaping the industrial landscape
The omnipresent Internet fuels the boom of Internet culture. Online literature, netcasting, online animation, online music, online TV series and Internet-based cultural trade, all of which contribute to the large scale of Internet culture sector. By the end of 2015, the market value of the sector will have accounted for an estimated 70% of that of Chinese cultural industry. Visitors may catch a glimpse of the booming sector through exhibitions at ICCIE 2015.
The Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television Exhibition has inaugurated the Online Literature & Arts Show in addition to the regular sections of Press & Publication, Radio, Film & Television, Going Global, Boutique Books, Copyright, and Classic Creation. China Reading Limited - the country’s largest online literature portal - teams up with Ynet.com, Omusic, Tlkg.com.cn, Hinabook, Blue Ocean Network and Huayunshangde to promote a number of online hits to film and television distributors.
Modern technology has a vital bearing on the competitiveness of cultural industry. The marriage of culture and technology has worked countless wonders in cultural sectors and greatly expanded the room for industrial development. At both the main venue and sub-venues, Chaoyang District has, from such perspectives as the combination of culture with business, finance, and technology, the coordination and innovation of enterprises, universities and institutes, and the seamless integration of creativity, design and technology, showcased the new achievements, opportunities, potentials and strengths of local cultural and creative sectors.
At ICCIE 2015, products which combine culture with technology can be found anywhere. The 32 projects hand-picked by Chengdu show the extent to which culture is integrated with technology. In particular, CanDo, a highly interactive mobile Internet product characterized by wide coverage, geographical uniqueness and media convergence, has become a new window to the culture of Chengdu. The Cultural Relics & Museum Related Creative Products Exhibition is graced by the presence of enterprises possessed of sophisticated technology and experienced in technical project operation. The Youth Student Creative and Innovation Exhibition has rolled out the model of 5D Magic Art Museum, in an effort to present new originality and new forms of art. The 2015 China 3D Technology & Creation Expo has displayed applications of 3D technology in urban planning, exhibitions, stage design, film & television, virtual reality and hologram. The latest achievements of “culture plus technology” can also be seen in Douniu Live’s social networking platform, Chineseall.com’s Government and Enterprise Cloud Reader (an app integrating cloud services and cloud publishing), TVmining’s cloud media resource platform, Pixomondo’s 3D viewing glasses, Dingrui Time’s naked-eye 3D technology, Easy Creative Technology’s 3D printing technology, Juzhong Jiatai’s WeChat printer, and Baofeng Technology’s Magic Mirror, Showroom, and Gas Station.
The proactive cooperation of culture and tourism sectors is bringing into shape the cultural tourism markets. At ICCIE 2015, Guangxi puts its performing arts and scenic spots in the spotlight; Anhui promotes with fanfare the International Tourism and Culture Demonstration Zone of Southern Anhui Province, and exhibits the laureates of China Tourist Commodities Competitions, represented by wood carvings, stone carvings, bamboo carvings, brick carvings, Anhui ink sticks, She inkstones, Four Treasures of the Study, iron pictures and gold pictures.
Culture adds value to sports, and the accelerated development of online sports sector expands the sports markets. The suite of IP-rich motion sensors displayed by Taishan Online integrates all-in fitness with Internet. The idong sensor, in particular, allows users to work out anytime anywhere (the unprecedented Idong Online Sports Competition is a revolutionary way of sports interaction). At the Sports Industry Exhibition, Feilong Jin’ao (Beijing) Water Sports Club vigorously promotes emerging all-in fitness projects and displays the land-based rowing machine. The ice and snow game apps epitomize the new business models of online sports and culture.
Culture injects an adrenaline into finance. Financial enterprises present at ICCIE 2015 include Beijing Micro-credit Company for Cultural and Creative Entities, Beijing Cultural IP Exchange (committed to “combining culture with finance and uplifting value through trading”), the one and only National Copyright Exchange, International Copyright Exchange (one of China’s first cultural property exchanges), Wenchou.cn (engaged in equity-based, lending-based and reward-based crowd-funding for enterprises), and Xiangshang360.com (one of the Top Ten Influential Chinese Brands of Internet Finance Services). These enterprises are among the dynamos of cultural industry.
E-exhibitions at ICCIE are living proof of “Internet plus exhibitions” and “culture plus exhibitions”. At the 22nd Beijing International Hi-Fi Exhibition, real-time high-definition images of the exhibition space have been for the first time transmitted via mobile Internet to global viewers. On the strength of ICCIE’s official website and mobile client as well as Eccpitbj.org (a public platform for economic and trade information services) and other famed websites, a never-ending e-exhibition is presented to makers and consumers, suppliers and purchasers all over the world.
Traditional culture as an amazing source of innovation
The creation and use of original products, cultural IPs and cultural brands will push enterprises up the industrial and value ladders.
ICCIE 2015 puts in the limelight original works of Chinese makers and independently developed cultural products, typified by a large number of self-designed online games and animations.
The core value of a brand lies in its cultural connotations. With the theme of “driving brand growth by collecting public opinions”, the China International Enterprise Brand Culture Exhibition prompts domestic enterprises to give weight to brand culture building so that China can change its identity before long from an owner of countless trademarks to one of myriad influential brands. The Exhibition also witnesses the release of the country’s first analytical report on cultural influence of Chinese brands based on data of public opinions, coupled with the list of Top 500 Culturally Influential Chinese Brands in 2015. Having taken account of conventional indicators and public opinions alike, the list will gain far-flung influence in the cultural and economic circles.
If cultural IPs are the “Aladdin’s lamp” of value creation, the outstanding traditional Chinese culture is the hotbed of cultural IPs and the embodiment of international attractiveness of Chinese culture.
ICCIE sets much store by the presentation of traditional culture, aware that cultural prosperity is predicated on the inheritance and innovation of traditional culture. The Culture and Economy Integration Achievement Exhibition contains special zones for “intangible culture and arts”, “works by Chinese calligraphy and painting artists”, “regimen” and “featured local culture”. The Tourist Attraction and Commodity Exhibition has displayed over 300 objets d’art developed by the Beijing Gifts operator, and the laureates of the 12th “Beijing Gifts” Tourist Commodities Competition; at the Joint Show of Time-honored Brands, household names like Neiliansheng, Wuyutai, Zhangyiyuan, Tongrentang, Refosian, Rongbaozhai and Beijing Antique City pitch in to turn their products into souvenirs. The Arts and Crafts Exhibition has showcased 3,000 exquisite sculptures, embroideries and ceramics. In particular, winners of the “Arts and Crafts Cup” Beijing Competition of Innovative Arts and Crafts Design debut at ICCIE; works of national-level masters bring down the house, including the Fortune Comes with Blooming Flowers · Circular Fan with Peony Pattern, Fortune Comes with Blooming Flowers, Archaic Scent of Blue-and-white Porcelains, and Mountains and Waters.
ICCIE 2015 also constellates intangible heritages and featured traditional products from other parts of the country. Yangzhou Session highlights innovative applications of traditional techniques, including Yangzhou Paper-cut, engraving typography, lacquerware, jade carving, embroidery, Guqin & Guzheng, plush toys and Yangzhou Three Knives. Chongqing presents Yes’M Autumn Grass Cloth, Liangping Bamboo Curtains, Rongchang Folding Fans, Rongchang Xiachang Potteries, Youzhou Miao Embroideries, and other national intangible heritages. Sichuan brocades, Qiang embroideries and oilpaper umbrellas are brought to the Expo by 15 enterprises specializing in cultural and creative products of Sichuan. Grass cloth paintings, in particular, have integrated into modern life. Ink and Color on Lotuses, Litchi, and Observing Fishing and Drinking Tea by Prof. Wang Shaonong, the “father of Chinese grass cloth paintings”, are on display together with grass cloth-made Doufang, embroideries, table screens and other novel derivatives. On the strength of the Cultural Park for Inheritance and Innovation of Chinese Civilization and the Public Service Platform for Featured Cultural Industry, Gansu manages to showcase 16 local products including Qingyang sachets, Qingyang sachet embroideries, leather-silhouette images, paper-cuts, Nuo opera masks, rugs, carved lacquerware, paper texture paintings, carved gourds, Tao ink stone, luminous jades, copper flying horses, thangkas, Flying Apsaras of Dunhuang, and Yellow River rare stones. “Cultural Gansu” Intangible Heritage Museum demonstrates the country’s only original Nuo opera masks of ancient Bin state and original leather-silhouette images based on Chinese classics, together with archaic sachets, Qingyang sachet embroideries, folk paper-cutting patterns, Northern Bin leather-silhouette images, Di Zhongyi’s masks, xylographs, and wood carvings. A total of 20 enterprises from Qinghai have exhibited 6,000 folk cultural products in eight categories. Among them, new faces of ICCIE, including Yushu thangkas, Anchong Tibetan knives, Tibetan waistbands, silver bowls, Tibetan incenses and meteorite artworks, have found favor with connoisseurs and collectors. Qinghai, alongside with Chengdu, paints a panorama of Tibetan, Qiang and Yi culture industries.
At the “Beijing Caishen” Intangible Heritage Experience Base of Nanluogu Alley Sub-venue, Dongcheng runs a trade fair for original works by intangible heritage inheritors. Beijing Caishen stands as an example of channeling intangible heritages into a full suite of cultural IPs including domain, trademark, patent and copyright.
Drawing nutrition from tradition and enhancing cultural taste are also the trump card of Taiwan enterprises. This year, 140 enterprises are invited by Songshan Cultural and Creative Park of Taipei Culture Foundation to the Taiwan Cultural & Creative Industry Exhibition. The five zones of the exhibition are dedicated to original works of aesthetic appeal inspired by dance, myths, children’s stories, calligraphy and other traditional cultural genres.
The massive wave of innovation and entrepreneurship gives scope to the creativity of youth
China is embracing a new wave of innovation and entrepreneurship, a wave which will unleash people’s wisdom and power, and generate new momentum for development.
In response to the wave, ICCIE 2015 has set up at the main venue the Youth Student Creative and Innovation Exhibition, coupled with creative activities like the Creative Bazaar for University Students in Beijing, the Beijing Adolescent Cultural Originality Festival, and the Youth Creative Design Contest Beijing New Village.
Design is the core of cultural and creative industry. The Youth Student Creative and Innovation Exhibition displays the Beijing Visual Image Design and Beijing Metro Public Art Design as references for city image building. Qinzhile Creative Education Club introduces its success stories of bringing creative education to primary schools, secondary schools and universities. 3D printing couture, a shining placard of the club, stresses eye-hand-brain coordination as opposed to common 3D printing courses which place undue emphases on hardware architecture and software modeling. Thanks to the seamless integration of 3D printing pen and paper craft couture, state-of-the-art technology struts its way into creative education at primary and elementary schools.
The 22nd Beijing International Hi-Fi Exhibition has inaugurated the Competition of University Students’ Recordings. The much-cited competition enhances its visibility by soliciting recordings from universities students across the country.
The Taiwan Cultural & Creative Industry Exhibition esteems youth creators as well as creations and products, showing the rosy prospects for Taiwan’s cultural and creative industry. The Songshan Cultural and Creative Park offers visitors a front-row seat to its operating mode and to the “cultural and creative entrepreneurs and talents” hand-picked and supported by SongYan Gallery. The inaugural Grad Expo in Songshan Cultural and Creative Park - Youth Creator Exchange Program is the biggest highlight of the exhibition. Committed to cultivating youth creators, the Grad Expo has been held for four times in Taiwan. Launched by ICCIE 2015, the Youth Creator Exchange Program displays 24 creations of fresh grads from 12 universities in Taiwan. Placed into the categories of “mass communication and new media design”, “vogue and visual design” and “space and landscape design”, the works indicate the degree to which the students have reflected on social issues and exploited their creativity. At the Cross-strait Youth Forum on Oct. 30th, professors and students from design institutes of both sides are gathered together to share their cultures and ideas and spark inspirations.
Cultural experience boosts innovation and consumption
Cultural products are born to be experienced, and ICCIE is the very platform that boosts innovation and consumption through cultural experience.
At the Cultural Relics & Museum Related Creative Products Exhibition, Beijing Antique City and Tianya Antique City - flagships of Chinese antique industry - identify and restore antiques free of charge for visitors by dint of their expertise and hi-tech apparatuses.
At the Beijing Culture Exhibition - and the DIY Zone in particular - traditional handicrafts are interactively demonstrated by intangible heritage inheritors and international masters from Yihuijia (International) Handcrafts Village. The Tourist Attraction and Commodity Exhibition puts on a fabulous handicraft show with inside-painted bottles, carved lacquerware, cloisonné objects, rabbit figurines and other intangible heritages.
Shijingshan Session connects visitors to the latest and hottest games, including “Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils” (a 3D interactive mobile game) of Changyou.com, “New PCIK” and “New Silk Road” of ICC Game, and “Empresses in the Palace” (a mobile game) of Linekong.com. At the Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television Exhibition, visitors may interact with noted anchors; kids may play with cartoon characters, or even take part in the carnival of BTV Kaku Kids Channel.
At Changping Session, the interactions of Ming Tombs: Through the Looking-Glass amaze visitors with the wonders of modern technical civilization and the rebirth of tradition.
The Sports Industry Exhibition consists of three eye-catching zones: Sports for All, Ice and Snow Industry, and Emerging Sports. At the “Sports for All” Zone, visitors are encouraged to make kites under the guidance of folk artisans. At the “Ice and Snow Industry” Zone, visitors may put on safety gear and play on a synthetic ink rink.
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