Private Museums Mushroom in Beijing

Beijing has seen a rise in privately founded art museums been established in recent years, making the sector the most active part of the city's new cultural economy.

The museums, often financed by personal or social capital, have drawn large crowds over the past decade. Statistics from Beijing's Bureau of Cultural Relics show that since 1996, about 20 art museums have registered across the city, the Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday.

Private museums, featuring a large variety of themes, ranging from ancient pottery to shadow plays and porcelain, well demonstrate the strong cultural flavour of the capital city.

When asked why Beijing stands out in the founding of private museums, Liu Chaoying, director of the bureau, attributed it to surging cultural demand, abundant museum resources and the clout the city has over the rest of the nation.

Beijing approved its first privately founded museum in 1996. The public's rush for cultural collections and an increasingly prosperous society have boosted the development of such private museums.

It is reported, that revenue from national art auctions hits 15.5 billion yuan in 2006, with 8 billion yuan worth coming from the capital.  

Source: CRIEnglish.com