Fuzhou looks to develop traditional industry
Fuzhou, a coastal city in Fujian province, is ramping up its efforts to reinforce the development of the local lacquer art industry and ensure its successful brand rebuilding.
Fuzhou Lacquer Art Research Institute, a lacquer art public service platform, opened on July 17 to support the growth of the sector.
The research institute, which is located at the Zhuzifang Lacquer Culture Zone in Fuzhou, will promote Fuzhou lacquer art development in eight areas, including raw lacquer materials research and development, training, product demonstrations, business incubation and communication.
The institute is headed by Zhen Yikun, a national-level intangible cultural heritage inheritor of Fuzhou bodiless lacquerware techniques.
National leading lacquer art masters, including Chen Qinqun, Ruan Jiewang and Wang Tianliang, also occupy different management roles in the institute.
"We do not want to just build a place simply for attracting talents, new technology development or for products sales," said Ye Youchen, deputy director of Publicity Department of Fuzhou. "We want to develop a platform that can guide the development of the lacquer art industry and integrate all resources to promote industrial reform."
Fuzhou has long served as an important lacquerware production and development center in China. Its development history can be traced back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Fuzhou bodiless lacquerware, a specialty of the city, is widely renowned, both in domestic and overseas markets.
Government data shows that there are more than 200 lacquer-related businesses employing more than 50,000 people in Fuzhou. More than 100 government-certified lacquer art experts work in the city.
The industry generated 2 billion yuan ($299.27 million) in annual output value, with its products distributed in over 50 countries and regions including Singapore, Japan and European countries.
As with many traditional industries in China, Fuzhou's lacquer art industry has faced shrinking demand over the past few decades.
Some leading lacquerware businesses, including Fuzhou First Bodiless Lacquerware Factory and Fuzhou Second Bodiless Lacquerware Factory, were forced to shut down.
"The slowdown in the development of Fuzhou's lacquer art industry is down to various reasons, including changing economic conditions and consumer preferences," Ye said. "Rebuilding the brand of local lacquer arts is a common goal of the Fuzhou government, academics and industry."
Xie Qianhua, chairman of the board of Fuzhou Three Lanes and Seven Alleys Co, pointed out that the Fuzhou lacquer culture industry is facing a number of problems, including a dearth of comprehensive planning to develop the industry and the lack of a centralized management platform.
Fuzhou Three Lanes and Seven Alleys Co is a State-owned company responsible for lacquer industry support and development in Fuzhou.
"We have to solve some key problems such as innovation promotion, professional training and market matchmaking," Xie said.
Fuzhou's authorities have focused on lacquer art brand rebuilding since 2015. The local government has developed a series of lacquer art brand rebuilding projects to strengthen the development of the traditional industry.
According to Ye, Fuzhou aims to become a national lacquer culture center with strong global awareness.
In addition to its other efforts, Fuzhou has been promoting the development of the Zhuzifang Lacquer Culture Zone since 2012.
The zone is designed to house numerous lacquer-related projects, including a lacquer art museum and a lacquer art demonstration platform. It is scheduled to be completed in 2018.
Hackerspaces, which are community-operated physical places where people meet to work on technology-related projects, will also be established in the zone to provide equipment, talent and startup support to businesses.
Xie said: "We hope the zone can build strong brand awareness in three to five years in China to strengthen Fuzhou's competitiveness in the lacquer art industry."
(China Daily 07/19/2016 page24)
