Nanjing University of the Arts (NUA) Practice Base was inaugurated at Suzhou Art Academy (SAA) on Jan 10. Meanwhile, an art exhibition to mark SAA’s 16th anniversary was unveiled. The exhibition will continue until Feb 28.

Established in 1999, SAA adopts the brand new operation mode of "three in one", i.e. the integration of academy, artist and cultural agent company, and is engaged in the creation of traditional Chinese painting and oil painting, theoretical research of art, education, promotion and exchange of art.

SAA has built cooperative ties with famous domestic art schools since its establishment, and has introduced a number of outstanding middle-aged and young artists. Soochow University and the Chinese Painting Department of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute have successively set up art teaching and training base in SAA.

The cooperation between NUA and SAA marks the widespread recognition of the union between education circles and art circles.

According to Shen Weifeng, director of Flower and Bird Painting Research Institute, Nanjing Academy of Calligraphy and Painting, and honorary director of SAA, with the opening of NUA Practice Base, SAA will provide support and cooperation for NUA's teaching, and offer a place of practice and creation and a display platform to NUA's teachers and students; NUA will in turn give better academic support to SAA's painters.

Displaying nearly 100 works of Chinese painting, oil painting and calligraphy by SAA's distinguished experts, the exhibition is a collective presentation of the artistic achievements of the artists, as well as the demonstration of SAA's achievements over the past 16 years.

SAA and Jiangsu Xinchao Group will reportedly build SAA Cultural Industry Park (SAACIP), a garden-style park covering an area of over 10,000 sqm, at Xietang Laojie. "SAACIP will be equipped with venue facilities like SAA Art Gallery, Shen Weifeng Art Gallery, SAA Xinchao Art Research Institute, etc., and we will, as always, help aspiring and potential young painters," said Wang Xinchao, chairman of SAACIP.