16th Annual UR ChinaFest To Be Held Virtually This Weekend

February 3, 2021

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND — University of Richmond will host the 16th Annual ChinaFest Feb. 4-7.

The annual tradition, coordinated in partnership between University of Richmond, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and The Rose Group for Cross-Cultural Understanding, will feature virtual programming that aims to promote better understanding between the peoples of China and the United States.

The festival begins Feb. 4 with a prerecorded lecture by Yue-Sai Kan, current co-chair of the China Institute in New York City, journalist, author, and entrepreneur. A panel discussion, moderated by Martha Merritt, UR’s Dean of International Education, will follow.

Panel participants include:

  • UR Presidential Spouse and cross-cultural mentor Betty Neal Crutcher
  • President of The Rose Group Rose Nan-Ping Chen
  • Director of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Alex Nyerges

Additional online, festival programming includes:

  • A recorded panel discussion featuring a current UR student and recent alumni who discuss their studies, experience, and engagement with China
  • Videos created by UR students who introduce their hometowns in China and serve as virtual tour guides
  • Three Chinese film selections, which will be available online until Feb. 14, and a Zoom session with film director Robin Lung on her feature documentary, “Finding Kukan”

“Moving ChinaFest programming online has had the advantage of creating connections through new forums,” said Martha Merritt, dean of International Education. 

Full festival programming and streaming access information can be found online.

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