Doing this artists' village tour tomorrow...

Songzhuang Contemporary Artists Village Tour through the China Culture Center. 

You may already know about the Dashanzi's 798 Art Zone with many contemporary art galleries. But the Songzhuang artist village is different - located in Tongzhou County of Beijing, the community is made up of younger freelance artists whose artworks have been sold to galleries in China and abroad. In 1995, when the Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace) artist community was dismantled, a handful of the original artists moved to Songzhuang Village in Tongzhou County in pursuit of bigger studio space, cheaper rent cost and a quieter environment to continue their creative works.  Over the next five years, drawn by the village’s idyllic charm and beautiful scenery, more artists decided to move into the area, thus confirming Songzhuang’s position as the largest artist community in China.  Today, Songzhuang is home to roughly 2,000 artists, including painters, sculptors, poets, writers, art critics, and photographers. They are scattered in several villages of Songzhuang, such as Xiaopu Village, Renzhuang Village, etc. The artists are relatively young and famous for their contemporary and radical artworks. Most of them are freelancers and their artworks are shown in 798 galleries and galleries and museums in Europe and US.Obviously the village houses are not enough for these rapidly increasing artists. Then more and more newly constructed rental studios have been established from 2006-2009 by the local government for the newly arrived artists. A modern and high class Songzhuang Art Museum is establised near the lake, boasting the best village level one in the world.

via www.chinaculturecenter.org

There are five of us. Should be a really fun day out.

Comments

[Rachel B]

Ooh that sounds great, have fun :)

[Kiley]

I have read about the Songzhuang and h have been wanting to visit it for ages. I am so envious. How was it? Maybe I'll hire the CCC next time I'm up in BJ!