Porsche and the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute unite again to ‘Empower the Future’Porsche reaffirms commitment to supporting the education of China’s youth
Shanghai/Chongqing. Porsche China and the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute (SFAI) celebrated their continuing philanthropic collaboration at the SFAI campus on October 21, at the awards ceremony and exhibition opening cocktails for the second Porsche ‘Empowering the Future’ Art Contest. The successful event reconfirmed Porsche’s steadfast dedication to its ‘Empowering the Future’ initiative, a programme designed to deliver educational support to the youth of China. Taking place during Porsche’s 10th year in China, it is also an apt example of the marque’s ever-deepening commitment to China as it celebrates a decade this year of being ‘Made in Faith’ in the country.
Displayed among the competitors’ works at the exhibition was a Porsche Mobile Educational Training and Resource Unit (METRU), granting guests an exclusive look into how Porsche technology has helped bring educational resources and qualified instructors to 400 schools throughout the earthquake-affected areas of Sichuan and Gansu Provinces, visiting 7,000 teachers and benefiting more than 110,000 students. Four Cayenne METRU have been donated to Sichuan and Gansu Provinces, and Porsche is contributing another two to Yunnan Province at the end of the year.
The contest, which accepted submissions this September and held two rounds of selection in October, provides the young artists of the SFAI the unique opportunity to have their work displayed in Porsche Centres across the country. Ten winners received cash prizes, and Porsche is awarding the top three artists with a trip to Germany, where they will visit some of the country’s most renowned art institutions, as well as the Porsche factory in Zuffenhausen and the Porsche museum in Stuttgart.
Of the 110 works submitted, the top winner was Li Cheng with the painting “Happiness”. Depicting eight children from a mountain village taking their first photograph, it captures the pure joy that springs from the innocence of first experiences. Coming in second was “A pleasant tour” by Yan Meiru. The surreal canvas of a car overflowing with playing children as it floats through an infinite blue sky expresses the dream of a cleaner world for the children of the future. The third place winner, Cong Xuming, painted “Cinderella”, a portrait of a young girl leaning into a car, while looking wistfully into the distance of the mountains around her; she embodies the yearning among rural youth for cinderella-like change.
“The second year of successful collaboration between Porsche and the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute reflects our shared goals of advancing education whilst encouraging creativity and innovation”, said Mr. Helmut Broeker, Chief Executive Officer of Porsche China. “The contest and the ‘Empowering the Future’ initiative demonstrate Porsche’s devotion to supporting the education of the youth of Sichuan. As we celebrate our own 10 Year anniversary this year in mainland China, we feel honoured to have had the opportunity to give back to the communities in which we operate by assisting UNICEF and the governments of Sichuan and Gansu Provinces with educational resources and training delivered by Porsche METRU.” He added: “We believe that assets like METRU and programmes like ‘Empowering the Future’ will help improve the prospects of thousands of young people in this region”.
Mr. Luo Zhong Li, Head of the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, said: “It has been a privilege to work alongside Porsche again on this most important of causes: helping students gain the skills they need for successful educations and their future careers. Just as the inauguration last year of the Porsche ‘Empowering the Future’ initiative constructed a platform to support the future development of SFAI students and faculty, this year’s competition builds on that promise by recognising the talents of another round of students, opening doors for young talents throughout China”.
“Porsche and the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute are indeed empowering the future with their contest”, said Ms. Gillian Mellsop, UNICEF Representative for China on the judging panel of the ‘Empowering the Future’ Art Contest. “The response to last year’s programme and the smooth execution of this year’s show that initiatives like this do not only draw public attention to youth education. They boost the abilities of UNICEF and government education authorities to bring educational resources and qualified instructors to even more isolated areas”.
In the second year of Porsche and the SFAI’s Art Contest, Porsche aims to go on raising awareness of the thriving ‘Empowering the Future’ programme among Porsche Centres, customers and the public. Renewing its vow to invest in the futures of China’s youth, Porsche continues to assist in providing education to schools in earthquake-affected areas and to celebrate the gifts of China’s artistic youth.
10/24/2011
