The opening of the Creativity 100 Talent Training Program Achievement Report Exhibition for Youth Activation and Creativity Shaping

On the morning of July 17, 2025, the opening ceremony of the Creation with Way and Boundless Creativity Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area Youth Creative Design (Creative 100) Talent Training Program 5th Anniversary Achievement Report Exhibition was held at the Four Seas Art Space of Jinan University. The exhibition was specially planned by the UNESCO Chair in the Inheritance and Innovation of World Traditional Handicrafts, supported by the Beijing Chenjianghe Public Welfare Foundation, guided by the China Arts and Crafts Society, the Chinese Anthropology and Ethnology Ethnic Culture Creative Industry Professional Committee, and the Guangdong Provincial Cultural and Sports Commission of the Zhigong Party, and organized by the Cultural Heritage Creative Industry Research Institute of Jinan University. Sun Yu, Secretary of the Party Committee of Jinan University, Wu Wei, Secretary General of Beijing Chenjiang and Public Welfare Foundation, Sun Yue, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of Guangzhou Forestry and Landscape Bureau, Wu Huaqin, First level Inspector of Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, Liang Yan, Minister of the United Front Work Department of Jinan University, Liu Guohua, Standing Committee Member of the Party Committee and Minister of the United Front Work Department of Baiyun District, Guangzhou, and others attended the opening ceremony.

Guests (from left to right): Wu Wei, Secretary General of Beijing Chen Jianghe Public Welfare Foundation, Song Jun, Chairman of China Science and Technology Development Foundation, Sun Yu, Secretary of the Party Committee of Jinan University, Chen Ping, Dean and Curator of Jinan University Cultural Heritage Creative Industry Research Institute

Wu Huaqin, a first-class inspector of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, Zhu Gang, Executive Vice President and Secretary General of the Guangdong Intangible Cultural Heritage Promotion Association, Chen Wenhui, Deputy Director of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Department of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and other guests took a group photo

Speech by Sun Yu, Secretary of the Party Committee of Jinan University

In his speech, Sun Yu stated that Jinan University, as a century old institution of higher education for overseas Chinese with profound historical background and extensive influence, has always shouldered the mission of educating and connecting with overseas Chinese, and is committed to cultivating high-quality talents with international vision, patriotism, innovative spirit, and social responsibility. In the journey of the new era, we have come to a deeper understanding of the importance of cultural heritage. It is not only a treasure of the Chinese nation, but also a source of our cultural confidence. It is based on this understanding that the Cultural Heritage Creative Industry Research Institute of Jinan University has emerged and achieved remarkable results in the past seven years. Sun Yu expressed gratitude for the support of Chen Jiang and the Public Welfare Foundation, and hoped to continue to strengthen cooperation in the future, jointly contributing to the cultivation of creative design talents in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area.

Speech by Wu Wei, Secretary General of Beijing Chen Jianghe Public Welfare Foundation

Wu Wei stated that the Chen Jianghe Public Welfare Foundation has been actively committed to the development of social welfare undertakings and fully supports China's education industry since its establishment many years ago. Since its inception, the Creativity 100 project has carried Mr. Chen Jianghe's profound patriotism and earnest expectations for cultural inheritance. In today's world where AI big data technology is increasingly integrated into design, only continuous learning can lead to continuous progress. The height of Creativity 100 will also represent the foundation's firm confidence in education, allowing more young people to strengthen their national cultural confidence through training, inherit excellent Chinese cultural heritage, and showcase more Chinese wisdom and concepts with rich and colorful creative products in this era of globalization. He stated that the foundation will continue to support the work of Jinan University and sustain the 'Creativity 100' project.

Sun Yue, Secretary of the Party Group and Director of Guangzhou Forestry and Landscape Bureau, attended the opening ceremony

Wu Huaqin, a first level inspector of Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, attended the opening ceremony

Feng Feng, Dean and Professor of the Cross Media Art School at Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, delivered a speech on behalf of his mentor

Professor Feng Feng, Dean of the Cross Media Art School at Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, delivered a speech on behalf of the mentor team and congratulated the successful launch of the achievement report exhibition; Seven student representatives expressed their gains and feelings during the training program.

Ye Zhihai, Vice Dean of the Cultural Heritage and Creative Industry Research Institute of Jinan University, presided over the opening ceremony

Guangdong TV host Li Lin presides over the opening ceremony

Student representatives speak (from left to right): Li Weijie (Macau), He Dazhi (Zhongshan), Xiao Gaofan (Beijing), Wang Zijian (Xi'an), Lin Zhihua (Macau), Shao Xuguang (Beijing), Ou Jiaxin (Macau)

Chen Ping, the overall planner and exhibition curator of the Creativity 100 project, delivered a keynote speech

Chen Ping, Dean of the Cultural Heritage and Creative Industry Research Institute of Jinan University, Chief Planner and Curator of Creative 100, said in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony: This plan aims to use contemporary aesthetic perspectives and advanced design concepts to make traditional Chinese handicrafts more refined, fashionable, and international, especially marketable and practical. We encourage young designers to actively engage in the development of the creative industry, conduct in-depth research and bold innovation, in order to promote the sustainable development of traditional handicrafts, make excellent traditional culture the source of creativity, empower innovation and creativity, and make more traditional culture products, works of art, and daily necessities. Through the creative industry, cultural heritage can become a part of life, visible, tangible, portable, and affordable, forming an international fashion brand that truly leads the fashion trend. Over the past five years, we have achieved good results through a comprehensive talent training system that spans disciplines, cultures, and fields. At the same time, we hope to train young creative design talents to not only master cutting-edge technologies but also deeply understand the cultural connotations of the nation, truly growing into future design leaders with a sense of social responsibility. ”

Accompanied by Sun Yu, Secretary of the Party Committee of Jinan University, Liang Yan, Minister of the United Front Work Department of Jinan University, and Zhou Zhi, Director of the Office of the Education Development Foundation of Jinan University, Song Jun, Chairman of the China Science and Technology Development Foundation, visited the exhibition

Innovative ideas lead the new trend of youth creative design

The Creativity 100 focuses on the cultivation of young creative design talents in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, with the overall theme of Youth Activate Creativity, Creativity Shapes Youth; Culture Creates Youth, Youth Creates Culture. It actively responds to and follows General Secretary Xi Jinping's guiding ideology of Innovation is the soul of national progress, an inexhaustible source of prosperity and development for a country, and the deepest national endowment of the Chinese nation, Youth is the most dynamic and creative group in society, and should be at the forefront of innovation and creation, to gather creative design talent resources in the Greater Bay Area, cultivate innovative forces, and build a platform for exchange, learning, and progress enhancement. This plan promotes young designers to engage in interdisciplinary practices in multiple fields such as intangible cultural heritage revitalization, urban renewal, rural revitalization, community building, and ecological symbiosis. By integrating modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and visual communication with excellent traditional Chinese cultural resources, it explores new paths for the integration of culture and technology.

At the end of the fifth training program in 2025, Andrei Chevelyov, former director of the Asia Pacific Department of UNESCO's Africa Priority and External Relations Department and winner of the 2024 Chinese Government Friendship Award, visited the training site and delivered a sincere and highly insightful speech. In his speech, he fully affirmed the positive influence of Creativity 100. He believed that in the process of young people unleashing their creativity and creativity, it is not only necessary to cooperate with predecessors to protect the cultural traditions of skilled craftsmanship, but also to shoulder the responsibility of ensuring that traditions are passed down from generation to generation and jointly building stronger partnerships. With the arrival of a new era, the development of China's cultural and creative industries is facing a new mission, especially in the context of the the Belt and Road initiative and the construction of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area.

Andrei Chevelyov, former Director of the Asia Pacific Department of UNESCO's Africa Priority and External Relations Department and winner of the 2024 Chinese Government Friendship Award, attended the closing training of the 5th Creativity 100 and delivered a speech

Andre particularly praised the work of Dean Chen Ping, the overall planner of this project. He said: With the arrival of a new era, the development of China's cultural and creative industries is facing a new mission, especially in the context of the 'the Belt and Road' initiative and the construction of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area. The research and practice of cultural and creative industries should strengthen the integration of industry, university and research, actively commit to exploring the production of high-quality cultural products, and constantly promote the healthy and sustainable development of emerging cultural industries. The 'Creative 100' plan was born in this context. I would like to thank Professor Chen for his forward-looking talent and very timely initiative.

(From left): Li Dejing, Vice President of Yunnan Dongba Cultural Protection and Inheritance Association, Ren Jianxin, Vice Chairman of China Arts and Crafts Association, Andre couple, Wu Wei, Secretary General of Beijing Chenjiang and Public Welfare Foundation, Chen Ping, Dean of Jinan University Cultural Heritage Creative Industry Research Institute, Chief Planner of Creativity 100 Project, Tao Liming, Executive Editor of China E-commerce Channel, China Net

Representatives of some participating students attended the opening ceremony of the results report exhibition

Five years of deep cultivation - Cultivate over a hundred 'seed creative talents'

In the past five years, the Creative 100 project has traveled to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Lijiang and other places, cultivating 109 young creative design talents, exceeding the original plan. These students come from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Beijing, Guizhou, Jingdezhen, Ruzhou and other places. They include both emerging designers and young inheritors of intangible cultural heritage, demonstrating a high level of professional ability and humanistic spirit. They continuously deepen their mission identification of activating culture with creativity and serving society with design in course learning, on-site practice, social services, and other aspects, becoming the seed power of cultural innovation in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao.

Chen Ping, the project leader, believes that young people are both creators and beneficiaries of creativity. UNESCO believes that in today's globalized and knowledge-based society, creative assets are creating new forms of income and employment, thereby stimulating income growth, especially among young people. Creativity allows people's various sources of inspiration and innovation to flow freely, promoting the construction of an open, inclusive, and diverse society.

The project adopts international cutting-edge teaching concepts and combines with the local cultural context of China. It invites more than 40 top experts and scholars from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao, Taiwan, and the international creative design field to give lectures, and collaborates with local governments, cultural enterprises, and social organizations to provide practical platforms and resource support for students, creating a creative talent ecosystem promoted by industry university research cooperation.

Student Creative Handprint Wall

The results report exhibition of The Way of Creation: Infinite Creativity is rich and colorful, and the design field is widely open. More than 50 students' works range from traditional handicrafts such as Ru porcelain, thousand layer soled cloth shoes, Guizhou Miao clothing, Yi clothing pattern data sorting, Shiwan ceramics, bamboo and rattan weaving art to fashion jewelry, public space design, industrial technology, art healing, mural restoration, social welfare and humanistic care projects, as well as visual interactive installations Various cutting-edge technologies such as VR immersive experience, AI assisted design, and development of Chinese and foreign text interactive APP mini programs not only enhance the wisdom and ability of young designers to digitally reinterpret traditional Chinese culture, but also prove the feasibility and necessity of combining traditional handicrafts with modern technology through a large number of creative products, works, and artworks, opening up new ideas for applying traditional handicrafts to contemporary home products, industrial products, and other design fields.

Exhibition - A Creative Feast of Technology and Culture Integration

At the entrance of the curtain area, the fragments of Ru porcelain and the blue Paper Cuttings butterfly opened a dialogue across thousands of years with elegant colors; The technique of adding patterns to the sole of a thousand layered cloth shoe has unfortunately become a swan song, while Shiwan pottery has been revived in the symphony of mud and fire.

The 5th Class of 2025 Students Zhu Yuhua (Ruzhou), Xu Xiao (Shanghai), Shi Xuhui (Hong Kong), Zhang Ye (Hangzhou), Zhang Xiaotong (Macau) Works: New Life of Ru Porcelain

At the opening ceremony of the Achievement Report Exhibition, the interactive device of Time Space Tunnel developed and designed by designer Xiao Gaofan became one of the highlights that attracted the audience: the audience communicated in real-time with virtual characters wearing ethnic costumes and singing Dong ethnic songs in an immersive space, experiencing the shock brought by the intersection of ethnic culture and digital art; Another work, the real-time AI digital interactive device Sheng Fang, is a dialogue between nature and technology, where the audience draws their own flower during the interaction.

2020 5th Student Xiao Gaofan (Beijing) Work: Time Space Tunnel Interactive Installation

The Around Words, Around Words fashion series brought by designer Xu Dongliang is inspired by the dyeing and weaving techniques of Qiandongnan intangible cultural heritage, integrating blue and white porcelain patterns with modern tailoring, showcasing the contemporary expression of traditional skills and international aesthetics, and triggering audience attention, photography, and discussion.

2023 Third Student Xu Dongliang (Zhuhai) Works: Around Words, Around Words Fashion Series

Higher education institutions and public welfare organizations jointly support cultural international soft power  

The Creativity 100 project has not only received key support from the UNESCO World Heritage and Innovation Chair in Traditional Handicrafts, but also received guidance from the Chinese Arts and Crafts Society, the Ethnic Culture and Creative Industry Professional Committee of the Chinese Anthropological and Ethnological Research Association, and the Cultural and Sports Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Zhigong Party. This project has become a brand paradigm led by universities in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, with social collaboration and international participation. It not only plays a platform role in youth cultural cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, but also promotes the deep integration of universities and the cultural and creative industry chain nationwide, successfully forming a sustainable development mechanism from talent cultivation, creative incubation to project transformation.

Exhibition Works for the 5th Anniversary of the Creative 100 Talent Training Program (Part 4)

It is reported that the Beijing Chenjiang Public Welfare Foundation will continue to cooperate with the Cultural Heritage and Creative Industry Research Institute of Jinan University, and continue to hold the Creativity 100 project. In the future, the training plan will further strengthen the practicality of students' creative design works that can be transformed, applied, and replicated. By utilizing the UNESCO Chair platform, it will establish a regular cooperation network with well-known design schools and cultural institutions at home and abroad, promote excellent students' works and creative achievements to go out of the Bay Area and into the world, and help enhance the international dissemination and influence of Chinese culture.

Student He Dazhi accepted an interview with reporters

Looking ahead to the future, from creative seeds to cultural sparks

Dean Chen Ping said, In the past five years, we have answered a question with action - 'Can young people take on the responsibility of cultural inheritance and social innovation?' The answer is yes. In the future, we will continue to empower young people, shape creativity, and soul culture, and promote the 'Creativity 100' as a cultural bridge connecting tradition and the future. We will make positive efforts and explorations for the modern expression and contemporary transformation of excellent traditional Chinese culture.

The Creative Way of Creation · Unlimited Creativity: Report Exhibition on the 5th Anniversary of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area Youth Creative Design (Creative 100) Talent Training Program will be officially opened to the public on September 1st and will continue until 2026.

Students of the Creativity 100 Achievement Report Exhibition took a photo with exhibition curator and project chief planner Chen Ping