Art fest hopes to reach audience of 4 million

Shanghai's efforts to bring art to the people are paying off, as more than 4 million people are expected to participate in the ongoing China Shanghai International Arts Festival.

The 17th annual festival runs through Nov 16, with 46 performance projects and 10 exhibitions around the city, with a majority of the artists coming from abroad.

More than half of the performing companies scheduled to give formal shows in theaters and opera houses at the festival will also perform at some public spaces during their stay in Shanghai. This is part of an annual initiative, Art Space, launched last year within the festival's framework to introduce art to a wider public, especially those who can't afford theater tickets or can't attend such a venue.