Creative paper-cuts

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-07-08 13:39

The nation's first competition of paper-cuts is being held in Tonglu, a county in East China's Zhejiang province. All are welcome to submit their creative works.

The contest, backed by the Chinese Culture Promotion Society and the Zhejiang government, is aimed at turning the ancient folk art of paper-cuts into a new industry by encouraging the use of typical paper-cut images on a range of items such as handicrafts, ceramics, clothes, accessories and daily utensils.

A fashion show of papercut-inspired dresses will also be held at the award ceremony in October. It will feature 50 professional designs from the China Academy of Art and other academies.

Qi Xiaohu, head of Tonglu county, says the judges will choose the Top 10 "Magic Scissors" from folk papercut artists all over the country and invite them to display their amazing skills.

Tonglu paper-cuts goes back some 1,700 years. In 2003, the Culture Ministry named the county "Hometown of Folk Arts".