The Rockefeller Art Foundation plans to invest $1 billion into building an art center in Shanghai, China.org.cn learned during the 3rd China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai on Monday.

The art foundation, a branch of the Rockefeller Foundation established by the Rockefellers, one of the American wealthiest families, is initiating its first major art project in China, which is expected to start construction in 2021 and finish by 2026. The foundation has already had a century-long connection with China, investing in science, medicine, higher education and innovation. 

The planning for the Rockefeller Art Center includes three sections. The art center section will have an art museum, an art exchange and information center, a pixel art museum, as well as matrix program such as the Rockefeller art award, a center for the performing arts, art trading, master's residency programs and art creation festivals. These will not only bring in international top arts resources, but also incubate and train more Chinese artists. 

There will be an industrial growth section positioned as the core business area in the Rockefeller cultural innovation chain. This will provide the region with cluster digital resources, innovation, and entrepreneurship support, industrial headquarters office space, incubation space, shared office space, exhibition and showcase space, education and training space, and international exchange space.

Through internationalization, diversification and the creation of an inclusive community in the commercial marina, the international gathering section introduces a Rockefeller library, an international children's arts training center, health clinic, creative product market, rowing athletic club and more, forming a harmonious international living model with art and culture as the core, and the residence and work as a complement. 

According to the foundation, its vision is to integrate physical, digital, and industrial innovation to create a significant economic opportunity for the arts, and make it one of the most vibrant centers for the arts globally. The Rockefeller Art Center hopes to provide a new urban toolkit for the digital age, sparking the imagination of cities to respond to diverse innovations and continued growth.

It will also serve as its Asian art business headquarters, hosting traditional creation and trade, global rare art treasures, as well as dealing with online and offline cross-border art trade transactions, intellectual property rights, authentication, logistics, storage and e-commerce. 

"The opportunity of China's opening up and the momentum of its rapid development continue to strengthen the Rockefeller family's confidence in deepening its development in the Chinese market," said Jack Hui, CEO of the Rockefeller Art Foundation's China headquarters. 

He hoped the art center would promote the development of the international art industry and art campus, establish a two-way communications network and dialogue platform, and be a bridge for connecting high-quality international resources between China and the world.

Hui believed the art center would also push forward the internationalization of China's domestic art products and art creators, and attract international orders for design, art products, and cultural services.

"We hope that, through the construction of the Rockefeller Art Center, we can jointly create a world-class art industry site, and promote integration and exchanges between China and the world," Hui said, adding that the project would also open up new channels for China and the United States to develop trade and strengthen cooperation, make new contributions to promoting bilateral cultural exchanges and friendly development.

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