From December 28 to 29, 2024, the inaugural meeting of the Theatrical Relics and Literature Committee of the China Theatre Association was held in Guangzhou. Yunnan Arts University (YNAU) was approved as one of the first member institutions at the national level. Li Hongmei, Chairwoman of the Yunnan Dramatists Association, Yang Jun, Dean of the Drama School at YNAU, Distinguished Professor Mao Xiaoyu, and Miao Lu, Professor from the Theatre Literature Department, attended the meeting.
The China Theatre Association established the Theatrical Relics and Literature Committee to foster interdisciplinary collaboration with drama creation and performance institutions in the research, education, and preservation of theatrical relics and documents, as well as in cultural museum initiatives. It aims to safeguard local theatrical relics and literature, advance professional art archive management across national drama units, facilitate the revival of traditional repertoires, and support the creative transformation and innovative development of dramatic arts.
Theatrical relics and literature serve as tangible testaments to Chinese civilization and stand as vital cultural resources for the enduring legacy and evolution of dramatic arts. Encouraged and recommended by the Yunnan Dramatists Association, YNAU established the Chinese Minority Theatrical Relics and Literature Research Society following directives from the China Theatre Association. It is currently the sole institution in Yunnan Province to receive this membership approval. The society was established upon the foundation of the Drama School of YNAU and the significant project of the National Social Science Fund of China, titled "Compilation and Research of Minority Theatrical Literature from the Perspective of the Chinese Nation Community".
Yang Jun, Dean of the Drama School at YNAU, reflected during the exchange meeting on the dedicated efforts and significant contributions made by YNAU in the protection, research, and preservation of minority theatrical relics and literature within Yunnan Province and across the country. She emphasized that minority theatrical relics and literature constitute a significant part of Chinese theatrical heritage, and their compilation and research remain at an early stage in China. YNAU (Chinese Minority Theatrical Relics and Literature Research Society) is eager to collaborate with enthusiasts and practitioners of ethnic minority drama under the guidance and coordination of the China Theatre Association, aiming to take proactive steps in preserving the national minority theatrical relics and literature.
YNAU, as a crucial hub for research on Chinese minority theatrical relics and literature, has recently been approved as a member institution of the committee. This recognition not only underscores its extensive expertise and remarkable achievements in this field but also reflects its unwavering dedication to preserving and advancing Chinese drama culture. Under the leadership and coordination of the China Theatre Association, YNAU will work collaboratively to advance the preservation of minority theatrical relics and literature. This effort aims to establish a leading domestic art institution distinguished by its international influence and unique characteristics.
