Being one of Asia’s biggest, most important culture events, the China International Performing Arts Festival is hosted by Ministry of Culture of the P.R. China and People’s Government of Guangdong Province, Co-Organized by People’s Government of Guangzhou Municipality, executed by Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Press and Publication of Guangzhou Municipality.

I was invited to deliver a keynote address on September 23, 22014, using my “rich Broadway experience and depth of Chinese industry knowledge“.

中国广州国际演艺交易会是目前中国两大国际性演艺交易会之一。它由中华人民共和国文化部和广东省人民政府主办，广州市政府和广东省文化厅承办，广州市文化广电新闻出版局执行承办。

In the keynote speech, Mr. Simkin spoke passionately about his concern of the current level of quality of live entertainment options currently available in China and the steps to creating a much needed global phenomenon. In Mr. Simkin’s speech, he outlined his strong and persuasive belief in the 3 urgent key challenges for the Chinese market:

• Urgent need to dramatically enhance the quality of production and nurture creativity
• Understand the importance of global marketing and packaging of shows to bookers and ticket buyers
• Improve management techniques and understanding of need for commercial thinking.

His speech was extremely well received, and was followed with in-depth discussions with various delegates from both the Chinese industry, Chinese Government and foreign attendees.

The following day, Mr. Zhu Kening, Secretary General of the China Association of Performing Arts (CAPA) echoed Mr. Simkin’s concerns, and called for his association and respective government to find solutions to the 3 steps as a sense of urgency and focus for the Chinese industry.

China Arts Festival :: China International Performing Arts Festival

(2014 Guangzhou)

China Culture Daily newspaper article October 22, 2014 with summary extract of Mr. Simkin’s speech from the China International Performing Arts Fair…