Last week, the Asian Academy of Arts hosted a focused gathering at IOE – “Emerging Practices in Contemporary Art and Jewellery.” The event brought together a group of artists, curators, and educators for a keynote speech and a panel discussion on the intersection of arts, education, and culture.

Xiaoming Zhu from the Centre for Chinese Language Education opened the session by reflecting on her experience as both a teacher and teacher trainer. She spoke about the practical ways the arts can make Mandarin learning feel broader and deeper. Xiaoming shared how artistic integration, from visual media to contemporary design empowers students to use Mandarin with more creativity, imagination, and purpose.

By bringing authentic, contemporary perspectives into the lesson, Xiaoming suggested we can enrich the learning experience through a meaningful exploration of living culture. She encouraged collaboration between educators and artists to keep Mandarin learning grounded, relevant, and engaging for students.

The Asian Academy of Arts is an international non-profit organisation committed to the study and global promotion of Asian art and culture. They are actively seeking to collaborate with educational institutions to develop creative resources and projects that bridge the gap between contemporary art and the classroom.

You can find more about Asian Academy of Arts at: https://www.asianacademyofarts.com/.