The requirement of a license for artistes to perform professionally will help improve standards and cool down public enthusiasm for beauty contests, said a senior cultural official on Thursday.

According to Friday's Chinese-language Guangming Daily, Liu Changquan, director of the Ministry of Culture's Cultural and Artistic Talent Center, said a regulation published by his ministry on Wednesday for certifying cultural professionals would "maximize the selection of qualified talents to join our team of cultural workers".

His comments were also published on the ministry's website on Friday. The ministry's regulation has been criticized by artistes, lawyers and scholars. They claim it closes the door to budding new talents.

The regulation targets mainly those who want to join the cultural sector art students, actors, dancers, musicians and singers, Liu said.

Students majoring in art will need two certificates - a diploma, issued by the school, and the other of their qualifications, issued by cultural authorities.

Liu said the ministry's regulation is backed by the Labor Law enacted in 1994 and the Law on Vocational Education in 1996.

"The certification of cultural professionals is an important part of the human resource reform going on in the cultural sector," he said.

As for people who are already in the cultural sector, they will have to get a certificate within three to five years, he said.

Any cultural organization consisting of unlicensed professionals will not be allowed to operate.

More than 60 occupations have been listed as belonging to the cultural sector for which national standards, exam question banks and reference materials have been developed, according to the Guangming Daily.

The regulation drew immediate criticism following its announcement.

Wang Lin, a law professor at Hainan University, said it has to be carefully studied before it comes into effect.

"According to the Administrative License Law which came into effect on July 1, 2004, no ministries have the power of administrative licensing. The power is only in the hands of legislative bodies like the people's congresses at the national and provincial levels, of the State Council and in some cases of provincial governments," he said.

(China Daily 04/21/2007 page3)