Ni hao! In preparation for our imminent trip to Shanghai, we took up the offer for some free Mandarin classes that were offered to us by the Meridian Society, a charitable organisation committed to the promotion of Chinese culture in the UK. Their goal is the fostering of Sino-British understanding and that’s right up our street as we will be working on the legacy of the Expo and the lasting cross-cultural collaborations that this event will bring about. After our eight week crash course that involved reading, speaking and writing Mandarin characters as well as learning about Chinese culture, we are now ready to set off and test our newly acquired vocabulary! Have a look at the Meridan Society’s website for more info on their Mandarin classes as well as the latest events.
Meridian Society
April 26, 2010UK – China connections
April 26, 2010China – UK connections
The UK and China are becoming increasingly linked through cultural collaborations and exchanges. Below are a number of organisations that specifically support and facilitate these relationships.
China – Britain Business Council (CBBC)
The CBBC have worked to develop British Trade in China since the 1950’s. They continue to offer practical services to businesses that wish to export goods and services to, invest in, or establish manufacturing opportunities.
http://www.cbbc.org/about_cbbc/index.html
Made in China
A consultancy that work with government agencies, media and creative businesses and individuals to bring China into Europe and Europe into China.
www.madeinchinauk.com/en/media-coverage.html#/home.html
Creative Connexions
Creative Connexions promote UK creative talent and connect UK companies with appropriate and emerging business opportunities in China.
www.creativeconnexions.com/eng/
Think London in Beijing
Located in Beijing, Think help Chinese companies who want to enhance their profile and develop business in London.
UK-China Business Link
UK-China Business Link is an online network that connects UK and China’s eMarketplaces.
www.ukchinabusinesslinks.com/home.htm
China Link
Closely connected to trade and investment agencies in the UK and China, China Link is a market specialist providing consultancy to British companies in China and Chinese companies in the UK.
www.chinalink.org.uk/DoingBussinessinUK.htm
China Media Centre
The China Media Centre research and publish academic conference and journals to support the connections between industries in China and the UK. They also host seminars on China in London and provide presentations and networking events for visiting Chinese officials.
Creative Industries Observatory- CIO
The Creative Industries Observatory provide information on the creative industries in London, Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong to support the growth of creative cities.
www.creativeindustriesobservatory.com/index.asp?s=section
Red Mansion Foundation
A not-for-profit organisation, which promotes artistic exchange between China and Great Britain through exhibitions, exchange programmes, publications and the Red Mansion Art Prize.
www.redmansion.co.uk
Chinese Arts Centre Manchester
This is the international agency for the development and promotion of contemporary Chinese artists. Their work includes exhibitions, publications, commissions, consultancies, tours and collaborations.
A short history of international exhibitions
April 22, 2010In Europe trade on a more than local scale was conducted in fairs and markets from the Middle Ages at least. Selling was the main purpose of such fairs, but inevitably goods were exhibited. A series of national trade exhibitions in France in the early nineteenth century inspired the English to arrange an international exhibition, the Great Exhibition of the Works of All Nations, in 1851. This was a remarkable success, and many other nations arranged fairs: New York, 1853; Paris, 1855, 1867, 1878, 1889, 1900, etc.; Vienna, 1873; Philadelphia 1876; Sydney, 1879; Barcelona, 1888; Chicago, 1893; Turin, 1911; and many others. The 1851 Exhibition was viewed as a contribution to world peace. Later, armaments were featured in the exhibitions, and towards the end of the nineteenth century nations promoted their colonies in ways now regarded as exploitative. Until 1928 international exhibitions were private enterprises by individual nations. Then an international convention established an International Exhibitions Bureau, which has since co-ordinated and validated such exhibitions. By Anthony Burton
