To be the Big Dipper that Shines among Numerous Stars, Ordos Creates a New Lighthouse of the Cultural and Creative Industry

BEIJING, Sept. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 24, a list of cultural and creative items were recognized for the"Big Dipper Award" created by Ordos, Inner Mongolia. As an important accomplishment of the 2^nd Ordos International Conference for Culture & Creativity (referred to as "OICC II"), it not only honored numerous domestic and foreign cultural masters and creative talents present at the conference, but also highlighted the economic transformation of this resourceful city.The conference was jointly organized by the China Internet Information Center and the municipal government of Ordos. 

Embracing the Spring of Culture and Creativity, Contributing to the Rejuvenation of the Country

In the past, there were many misunderstandings about "cultural industries". The success of OICC II represented yet another radical reform of cultural system. A large number of domestic and foreign experts and scholars stressed during the two-day forum that a cultural industry does not mean "industrialization of culture". Instead, it is an industry of commodities relating to production, sales and human psychological consumption. It can be said that the essence of a cultural industry, with creativity as the fundamental means, cultural content and creative results as core value, and intellectual property or consumption as transaction characteristics, creates social wealth and promotes social progress and the people's overall quality.

In a speech of the opening ceremony, Wang Qiguo, judge of Big Dipper Award and a researcher of Institute for Cultural Industries, Peking University, specifically pointed out: "The cultural industry represented the 1.0 Era, while the cultural and creative industry is the 2.0 Era. Chinese economic society is urgently seeking new impetus for sustainable development today. Networks provide us with another path, which solves quality problems. It brings competitiveness and high added value. 'Internet+' and 'Culture and Creative+' are promoting the rise of China. When the two pillar industries rise to new heights, the country can take off and maintain great power!" This opinion also shows the consensus shared by the new generation of cultural and creative workers in China. Just as the well-known management scientist Peter Drucker once said, "What promotes economic development is not Fortune 500. They only decide the media headlines. It is unknown start-ups and SMEs that account for the largest proportion of GDP; what really promotes social progress is not the few star-like CEOs, but the people who are working silently."

Opening up the Cultural and Creative Industrial Chain and Exploring Sustainable Urban Development

Faced with a series of in-depth issues concerning the world's unprecedented economic development, the enlightenment and ideas of developed countries are particularly worthy of reference. OICC  II definitely absorbed these useful inspirations to open up a cultural and creative industrial chain from new foundations and create a benign cycle where "culture and creativity promotes economic growth, while economic growth incubates cultural and creative ideas". On the one hand, the conference highlighted the gathering of "the people", attracting thousands of quality cultural and creative works from across the world by setting up the "Big Dipper Award" at the front end of the industrial chain; on the other hand, it launched an IP Incubation Fund of RMB 300 million for the back end of the industrial chain, forming an incubation ecology of "cultural and creative people + creative works and projects + funds". The Ordos Local Government plays the role of an intermediary and supporter for the entire industrial chain through issuing a series of opening up and win-win policies, guiding and safeguarding the development of the cultural and creative industry.

On the fringes of OICC II, a Role Creative Carnival was successfully held, with numerous original IP works displayed. The down-to-earth and popular interactive activity was a highlight of the overall event. For many cultural and creative new talents, their dream is to build a platform of happiness and mutual exchanges. Besides, with the support of the newly-launched Fund, it will be easier to recognize and promote good creativity and works. It will definitely contribute to the blossoming and prosperous development of the Chinese cultural and creative industry, enabling Ordos to embark a path of sustainable development with transformation and upgrade.

Integrate into the "B&R" Initiative, Promote Common Development of the Region

Ordos was a hot spot of the thousand-year Silk Road. Over many centuries, the land witnessed cultural and economic integration and development; also, Ordos is an economic center on the extension line of North Xinjiang as the Belt and Road  Initiative specifies. Its breakthrough in the cultural and creative field is also a response and a trigger for a "B&R" cultural and creative boom.

Ordos is a latecomer as well as forerunner. It can inherit the achievements of many brother cities. Moreover, it actively comprehends the value and significance of culture and creativity in promoting regional economy of the B&R. Quite a few of the OICC II topics focused on discussion of the ties between culture & creativity and economic growth, such as speeches of Culture & Creativity and "B&R" Practice, Cultural and Creative Development in Pakistan, Culture & Creativity Leads Ordos to Pursue Profound Economic and Social Changes and Culture & Creativity and the Realization of Innovative Strategy of Dongsheng District.

In addition, OICC II was star-studded, fully reflecting the cultural inclusiveness of the Belt and Road Initiative. Of them, there were well-known masters and excellent creative teams from the "B&R" countries, e.g., Netherlands, Italy, Pakistan, Iran, Thailand and Bangladesh; internationally-recognized architects Daniel Libeskind, Eric Owen Moss,  He Wei, Emmi Keskisarja; Chen Yaoguang, Zheng Shiliang, Feng Yu, Tang Hanzhong and other renowned interior designers, as well as product cross-field artist Daan Roosegaarde; well-known home designer, product designers Ye Yuxuan and Cai Wanya, graphic designers Yangzi and Zhang Zijian, etc.

The whole event represented a magnificent chapter of the city's cultural and creative industry. Its opinions, works and achievements will take more time to be absorbed and promoted.

SOURCE china.org.cn