Association History

Here at Sino American Culture & Performance Exchange, we're committed to investing our expertise and resources in order to further achieve our cause. Since 2000, we've been supporting our community members in a variety of ways and measuring our success not by monetary size, but by more qualitative measurements such as the scale and effectiveness of our efforts. Just imagine what we can achieve together.


Association Introduction: The US-China Cultural and Artistic Exchange Association was established in October 1992 in Manhattan, New York, by Chinese and American artists and cultural enthusiasts. It is one of the earliest Sino-US cultural exchange organizations established in the United States. UN Under-Secretary-General Ji Chaozhu and Ding Wei (now Vice Minister of Culture) attended the founding ceremony. For 30 years, the Association has diligently cultivated the soil of cultural and educational exchange between China and the United States, shedding countless drops of sweat. Especially in the early days, despite the differences in politics, economy, and customs between the two countries, the Association persevered, demonstrating perseverance, pioneering spirit, integrity, and a willingness to take risks. It successfully fulfilled the mission entrusted by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and the tasks assigned by numerous American international arts festivals. With patriotism and integrity, the Association contributed funds and effort to help 68 Chinese delegations establish their reputation in American society, undertaking extensive matchmaking and media promotion work, ensuring their successful return.


The association's successful project achievements can be summarized into three main categories:


First, promote Chinese culture and cooperation to mainstream American society (in six areas):

1. Main line planning and implementation:

  • In 1993 and 1994, I arranged two exchanges between Shanghai Wenhui Daily, The New York Times, and ABC Television.
  • In 1994, a meeting was arranged between the editor-in-chief of Shanghai's "Wenhui Daily" and Peter Jannings, one of the most influential anchors on ABC television in the United States.
  • In 1995, Pan Zhenzhou, Vice Minister of Culture, was invited to lead a delegation to visit the United States and Lincoln Center.
  • In 1996, he was tasked by the Ministry of Culture to facilitate negotiations between the Ministry's China National Cultural and Art Corporation (CNAC) and the three major mainstream performing arts companies in the United States. He recommended CNAC to join the International Performing Arts Association (IPA) and helped China become a member of its council. This laid the groundwork for the visits to China and performances in the Forbidden City by the three tenors, Pavarotti and Domingo.
  • In 1997, it facilitated collaborations between the China Performing Arts Agency (under the Ministry of Culture), Lincoln Center, and MIG Performing Arts.
  • In 1998, the Ministry of Culture granted China the approval to import the first American Broadway show, "Crazy for You".
  • On March 10, 2014, the association's large-scale symphonic choral work, "Rules for StudentsThe play was performed by American college students at the University of California.


2. Producing large-scale performing arts events:

  • In 1992, 1993, and 2000, concerts featuring Dong Rongcan's works, Wen Kezheng's vocal performances, and Dong Rongcan's romantic piano concerts were held at Carnegie Hall in the United States.
  • In 1995, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance against Japan, a large-scale ballet, "The White-Haired Girl," was rehearsed in New York, with Peng Dan starring, giving her her first public appearance.
  • In 1995, it hosted the first Asian American Model Contest in the United States.

3. Participate in international arts festivals

Over the past 20 years, numerous art groups, including the Nanjing Little Red Flower Art Troupe, North China Electric Power University, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing Second Foreign Language University, Capital University of Economics and Business, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai Xuhui High School, Beijing No. 65 High School, Shanghai Normal University Affiliated High School, and Shanghai Xinhua Junior High School, have been invited to participate in the International Arts Festival. They have won numerous awards, brought prestige to China, spread the friendship of the Chinese people, and have been successful in every visit to the United States.


4. Introducing American culture

In 1993, the association led the American Las Vegas Legends Art Troupe, in 1995 the American Playboy Rock and Roll Dance Troupe, in 2000 the American Las Vegas Art Troupe, the American Western Ballet, in 2002 the American Rayleigh Uberley Modern Dance Company, in 2008 the University of Westminster Choir, in 2012 the University of Utah Valley Original Dance Troupe, in 2013 the University of Utah Valley Chamber Choir, and in 2017 the Utah Youth Dance Troupe's "New Silk Road China Tour" to China for exchange performances, building friendship between the people of the two countries and increasing Americans' understanding of China.

5. International competitions

In 2012, the association led the "Blue Power Choir" from North China Electric Power University in Beijing to win a silver medal at the 7th World Choir Games. In 2013 and 2015, the association's Xuhui Middle School Dance Troupe, Hangzhou Youth Acrobatic Troupe, and Capital University of Economics and Business Art Troupe won gold medals at the 28th Idaho International Dance and Music Festival and Competition; and also won a gold medal at the 30th Idaho World Summer Arts Festival. The association worked tirelessly through the night to gain a voice in the judging panel meetings, successfully winning commendable honors for China.

6. Cultural exchanges between Chinese and American communities

From 2011 to 2013, the association planned and organized the Xujiahui Street Art Troupe in Shanghai, the Hongbo Community Art Troupe in Wuxi in 2013, the Shanghai Senior Citizens Art Troupe, and the "New Silk Road. China Culture Week" of Chinese Tai Chi Culture organized by the State General Administration of Sport in 2017. These initiatives successfully entered communities, schools, and government offices in the United States, extensively promoting cultural exchanges between the people of China and the United States and setting a precedent.


II. Educational Cooperation and Study Abroad (divided into four areas)

  • Sino-foreign cooperative education programs:

We have planned and established sister school relationships, student exchange programs, 2 2 dual degree programs, and Executive Master of Business Administration programs with American universities for Nankai University's School of Economics and Donghua University's Xuri School of Business Administration free of charge.


  • China High School Diploma Program and Partner Schools:

Established dual-diploma high school programs for Wuxi Foreign Language School, Dalian Huiwen High School, Chongqing Fudan High School, Shanghai Fudan Guanghua Education Group, and their corresponding schools in the United States. Also established sister school relationships with Qingdao No. 1 High School, Qingdao No. 16 High School, and Nankai University. In 2013, founded and operated the international class at Shanghai Tongbai High School. Established the Kunming Transportation Investment Company Sino-American International School.


  • Scholarships for studying in the United States:

Leveraging its strong reputation in the United States, the association has secured substantial scholarships for Chinese students. Each student can receive $70,000 to $90,000 over four years, depending on their academic performance in China.

​

  • Study Abroad Programs: Enhancing the International Perspectives of Chinese Students

Organizing and inviting dozens of student delegations from Shanghai, Beijing, Jiangsu and other regions to participate in study tours and inspections in the United States, allowing them to:

  1. Step into Harvard University and experience American college life
  2. Step into an American family and experience basic American culture
  3. Entering the government to conduct dialogue with the mayor
  4. Entering the Community and the American People's Friendship Alliance

Third, charitable undertakings

  1. From 1993 to 1995, the US-China Cultural and Artistic Exchange Association organized Chinese artists to visit several nursing homes in the United States for charity performances and donations, which resonated in American society.
  2. In 1999, the association invited the Hangzhou Youth Acrobatic Troupe to perform for the injured Chinese athlete Sang Lan and donated the proceeds to her.
  3. Founding Shanghai Xiuying Nursing Home: "Even a blade of grass can repay the warmth of spring." In 2005, based on love for his mother and care for the elderly, Association President Dong Rongcan donated 1 million yuan in his mother Zhao Xiuying's name to establish the Pudong New Area "..."Shanghai Xiuying Nursing Home(No. 30, Lane 380, Dezhou Road, Pudong, Shanghai). Mainstream media such as Xinmin Evening News gave extensive coverage to this patriotic and loving heart.
  4. In 2008, after the Wenchuan earthquake, Chairman Dong Rongcan rushed to the front lines and created "..."Join hands and weather the storm together.The music album, released on May 12, 2009, features a performance titled "Holding Hands, Through Thick and Thin," organized by the People's Daily to commemorate the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake. The performance was reported by the People's Daily.Dong Rongcan: A Chinese American with a Chinese Heart(People's Daily Overseas Edition, June 2, 2009, page 6).
  5. Supporting disadvantaged students to study in the United States: From 2013 to 2015, the association supported Li Ying from Xinjiang, Deng Yizhou from Hubei, Meng Ran from Shenzhen, and Zhang Shiao, who had no financial means to study at high school and university in Salt Lake City, USA.
  6. On December 1, 2015, in response to Peng Liyuan's role as "AIDS Awareness Ambassador," the association exclusively directed, wrote the script and composed the music, and funded the venue rental, lighting, sound, and set design, producing a large-scale public welfare musical.Love and LifeThe performance, held at the Shanghai Daning Theater as part of a charity event to coincide with the establishment of the Shanghai Charity Foundation's "AIDS Special Fund," moved all the audience members.