Porsche and Sichuan Fine Arts Institute Join Efforts to ‘Empower the Future’Porsche continues its commitment in supporting the education of China youth
Shanghai/Sichuan. Porsche China and Sichuan Fine Arts Institute celebrated a landmark collaboration at the Chongqing Art Museum on November 11, at the award ceremony and exhibition opening cocktail of the Porsche ‘Empowering the Future’ Art Contest. The event was a successful highlight of the Porsche ‘Empowering the Future’ initiative - a programme designed to bring educational support to the youth of China. Displayed among competitors’ works at the exhibition was a modified Porsche Cayenne Mobile Educational Training and Resource Unit, allowing guests an exclusive insight into how Porsche technology has helped bring educational resources and teaching instructors to 185 schools throughout the earthquake-affected areas of Sichuan and Gansu Province, visiting 4,143 teachers and benefiting 62,585 students.
The contest, which ran from September 27 to November 9, offered young artists of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute an opportunity to have their work displayed in Porsche Centres across the country. In addition to cash prize to selected ten winners, top three winners were also rewarded with a trip to Germany under the patronage of Porsche, where they will visit Germany’s most renowned art institutions, galleries and exhibitions, as well as the Porsche factory in Zuffenhausen and Porsche museum in Stuttgart. Selected from the 192 works submitted, the top winner is Yansha Zi’an with the work of Reflection of Life – Flowers at Blossom, which tells an inspiring story that regardless of background every child has a dream to live on. The second place winner is Zhu Qing with the painting of My Beautiful Homeland that mirrors the joy of seeing the rebuilt homes and lands. The third place winner is Li Fangxue with the painting named Child Faces depicting several smiling faces and a positive attitude towards life. An award for outstanding creativity goes to Yin Daibo for the superior craftsmanship of a chic pink Porsche car sculpture using fabric glass.
“It is the first collaboration between Porsche and Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, two parties that encourage creativity and innovation and share a long-held commitment to excellence and education.” Mr. Helmut Broeker, Chief Executive Officer of Porsche (China) Motors Ltd., said, “The contest which has been successfully concluded, and the ‘Empowering the Future’ initiative, demonstrate the commitment of Porsche to supporting the education of China’s youth. We are extremely proud to have been able to offer our assistance to the work of UNICEF and the government in Sichuan and Gansu Provinces, and give something back to the communities in which we operate. We believe that the educational resources and training brought by the Mobile Educational Training and Resource Units will help to ensure a brighter future of thousands of young people in this region.” Mr. Luo Zhong Li, Head of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, said: “It has been a privilege to work alongside Porsche for this most important of causes, and contribute in a meaningful way to the education of the children that Porsche is working to assist. This competition has offered the Students of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute a great opportunity have their work recognised. I believe that all of our competitors will have gained insights and skills that will become part of their long-term educational experience.”
Dale Rutstein, Chief of Communication and Private Sector Partnerships UNICEF China, and UNICEF representative on the judging panel of the Empowering the Future Art Contest, said: “The ‘Empowering the Future’ Art Contest from Porsche and Sichuan Fine Arts Institute is a unique way to attract public attention and support through the emotional power of art. Successful events such as this one will allow UNICEF and government education authorities to bring teaching resources and qualified teaching instructors to even more isolated schools in Sichuan and Gansu Provinces. With the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute Art Contest, Porsche hoped to raise awareness of the programme’s excellent work among Porsche dealers, customers and the general public. In attracting more publicity and funding for this special cause, Porsche effectively achieved the twin goals of assisting the education of the reconstructed schools in the earthquake-affected areas, and celebrating the talents of China’s best student artists. All of these demonstrate Porsche’s continuous commitment to supporting the education and welfare of China’s youth.
11/11/2010