10,000+ Artworks, 100+ Events: “Blooming June” 4th Chongqing Urban Arts Festival Kicks Off, Merging Art with the City

Chongqing - On May 26, the cultural feast, "Blooming June" Graduation Season of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute (SCFAI) returned in full force. For the first time, the SCFAI graduation exhibition has joined forces with the 4th Chongqing Urban Arts Festival, a strategic partnership that aims to integrate art into the city's daily life. Running through June 26, the festival features over 10,000 artworks, offers more than 100 public events, and distributes 1 million yuan (approximately $146,400) in consumer vouchers to make the arts more accessible to residents and tourists alike.

Youth Creativity on Display

At the SCFAI Art Museum, visitors step into a diverse art labyrinth. The graduation exhibition features more than 2,000 sets (over 10,000 individual pieces) by nearly 2,100 students - more than 1,500 undergraduates from 24 majors and nearly 600 postgraduates from six disciplines. The works span oil painting, sculpture, traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy, film and animation, cross-media art, experimental art and more.

The School of Fine Arts presents a visual report titled "Glimmers and Etchings": oil paintings capture fleeting light, printmaking pushes traditional boundaries, watercolors depict urban life, and sculptures embrace new media and technology. The School of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy features works addressing contemporary themes such as AI, urban culture, and fashion, while calligraphy pieces explore both traditional and innovative forms. The School of Architecture and Environmental Art, under the theme "Making Urban and Rural Areas Better," presents projects addressing riverside spaces, industrial heritage, rural revitalization, and community renewal.

Art Ignites the City

This year's theme is "Blooming." "For the first time, we've given 'Open June' a guiding concept- 'Blooming'," said SCFAI President Jiao Xingtao. He described it as "the energy transformation of light and heat; the artistic burst from nothingness to radiance; the long-held and passed-down artistic spirit of SCFAI; the passionate, vibrant temperature of youth; and the unknown possibilities from a sudden spark to a blazing flame of thought."

Beyond the main museum, both the Huxi and Huangjueping campuses will open to the public, with multiple venues creating an immersive art-campus experience. Weekly Night at the Museum" events will be held on Friday and Saturday evenings, along with a cross-border visual spectacle scheduled for May 26-29. The institute will also host matchmaking sessions for art collectors and the design industries, bridging the gap between creation and the market to inject fresh momentum into Western China's cultural industries.

"Art is the soul of a city, and youth is its future," President Jiao said. "'Open June' is no longer just SCFAI's graduation exhibition - it is Chongqing's art season and a cultural festival for all citizens."

Art for All, with Million-yuan Vouchers

The 4th Chongqing Urban Arts Festival includes not only the SCFAI exhibition but also nine outdoor "Riverbank Art Live" performances at Jiangbeizui Square, Danzishi Square, and the City Parlor; a "Spark Project" youth art co-creation month taking place in distinctive urban spaces such as riverbanks, streets, caves, and rooftops; and six interactive events with established artists.

In addition, more than 100 premium stage performances and over 30 thematic exhibitions will be held at major theaters and art museums across Chongqing's districts and counties, transforming public spaces into immersive artistic experiences.

To make the arts more accessible, the festival is distributing more than 10,000 consumer vouchers totaling 1 million yuan (approximately $146,400). The first batch was released on the evening of May 26 via the "Chongqing Performance Information" mini-program. Vouchers can be used for tickets to stage plays, dramas, stand-up comedy, concerts and other popular performances. Livestreams on the official social media accounts of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development and SCFAI will also offer additional vouchers, allowing viewers to claim benefits while watching online.