The Center for Aesthetic Education of Chongqing University was established in January, 2020. The Center takes advantage of the rich art and aesthetic education resources of the School of Arts and follows the general principles of aesthetic education and integrates the best practice of aesthetic education from both home and abroad in human history. It sets out to promote the spirit of Chinese aesthetic education to blend aesthetic elements, the education of appreciating beauty for the cultivation of talents and transformation of the understanding of the importance of aesthetic training. It is dedicated to promoting aesthetic education and art appreciation among students in the University to promote all-round development of moral, intellectual, physical, and aesthetic qualities.
With strong support from the University for the engineering background and advantages in science and technology, the Center takes art as the core of aesthetic education and promotes the cross-disciplinary integration with other disciplines to set up a special education base that brings together “production, education, research and innovation” in the new model for talent training. It is a promising attempt to comprehensively improve the quality of art and popularization of aesthetic education, and effectively promote the reform and development of professional art and aesthetic education. It is conducive to build a dynamic, collaborative, open and efficient pattern of aesthetic education in the University.
Up to now, the Center for Aesthetic Education of Chongqing University has actively participated in the curriculum construction of the University and offered over 30 general aesthetic art courses for all students, covering music, dance, calligraphy, painting, sculpture, architecture, design, principles of art, as well as workshops for Sichuan opera, pottery, calligraphy, music, and creative arts. The Center has supported the construction of a systematic and comprehensive university public aesthetic education curriculum, and successfully held multiple aesthetic education and performance activities:
1. In July 2020, the “Remain True to Our Original Aspiration” online concert was held at Chongqing University in honor of the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.
2. In December 2020, the first Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition of Chongqing University was held. Nearly 300 works by teachers and students including Chinese painting, calligraphy, oil painting and printmaking were presented and well received.
3. In December 2020, “Constructing Philosophy of Aesthetics and Humanistic Literacy” --- National Seminar on Aesthetic Education in Colleges and Universities was held. Representatives from nearly 150 institutions attended the seminar, and around 5,000 teachers and aesthetics educators watched the live streaming, making it the largest academic meeting on aesthetic education in colleges and universities in China in 2020.
4. In May 2021, the Ecuador International Poster Biennial World Touring Exhibition to Chongqing, China was held with a collection of over 100 award-winning works of global vision and expertise.
5. In June 2021, the “Spring Awakening” --- Classical Music Concert was held in the Small Theater on Huxi campus, attracting an audience of nearly 500 people.
6. In June 2021, the Chongqing University 2021 Graduation Art Work Exhibition was held with more than 300 pieces (sets) of artworks showcased at venues on Huxi campus. The event, titled “Wisdom for Creation, Art for Youth”, was a great example to comprehensively demonstrate the expertise of students of the School of Arts in their graduation projects in product design, visual communication and environmental art design.
7. In June 2021, an art exhibition of calligraphy and painting in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China was held in Chongqing University. Over 100 pieces of calligraphy and painting works were exhibited and well received.