"Culture connects hearts; art bridges the world." On June 1, the "Grand Tour—2026 China Academy of Art Graduation Season International Youth Art Dialogue" opened.
Embodying the "Grand Tour" ethos, the "2026 International Youth Art Dialogue" comprises three components—the Presidents' Dialogue on art education's mission in a global civilizational context, the Young Artists Dialogue, and the "One Art, Boundless Seas" international youth art exhibition. This open platform connects young artists, curators, educators, and academy leaders across borders, drawing participation from international students and young artists of over 50 nationalities and presidents from more than 50 international art schools.
International Art Academy Presidents' Dialogue
Expert discussions on five themes: art's enduring value amid AI, crises and opportunities in art education, institutional visions, future pedagogy, and collaborative models.
International art academy leaders—including Riccardo Caldura (Venice Academy of Fine Arts, Italy), Armelle Nafti (ENSA Dijon, France), Eva-Maria Seng (Stuttgart Academy of Fine Arts, Germany), Ingo Offermanns (Hamburg University of Fine Arts, Germany), Angelo Maggi (IUAV Venice, Italy), Juan Pablo Aschner Rosselli (Universidad del Rosario, Colombia), Alejandra Celedón (Universidad Diego Portales, Chile), and Maja Rožman (University of Zagreb, Croatia)—engaged in dialogue with their Chinese counterparts: Shen Hao, Yu Xuhong, Jiao Xingtao, Fan Bo, Qiu Zhijie, Xu Qingfeng, Li Shuchun, Yu Yang, Feng Zhiguo, Zhang Lian, and Chen Lin. The discussions covered the five core themes, as well as youth exchange and international cooperation.
International Dialogue of Young Artists
On June 1, it took place at Xiangshan Campus. Artists and scholars from Italy, the US, Finland, Singapore, South Korea, Seychelles, and Zimbabwe discussed three themes: "Contemporary Translation of Tradition and Global Dialogue," "Fluid Identities and Cross-Disciplinary Practices," and "Global Perceptions of the Chinese Scene."
That afternoon, over 90 scholars and artists from more than 20 countries joined parallel roundtables. Some used ink and folklore to reinterpret classical art; others employed fiber and installation to explore fluid identities; still others drew on their studies in China - calligraphy, Taiji, and classical imagery -to offer localized interpretations of Chinese culture.
Online gallery
The online gallery presents 89 works by 139 young artists from 14 institutions, including the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, L'École de Design Nantes Atlantique, ENSA Dijon, the Venice Academy of Fine Arts, IUAV Venice, Hamburg University of Fine Arts, Stuttgart Academy of Fine Arts, Sofia National Academy of Art, Repin Academy of Fine Arts, University of Zagreb Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, Universidad del Rosario, Universidad Diego Portales, and Silpakorn University. Visit online exhibition.
"One Art, Boundless Seas"—International Youth Art Exhibition
On June 1, the exhibition opened at the CAA Crafts Museum, offering in-person viewing alongside 24/7 online access. The showcase features 153 works by young artists from 52 countries, organized into three sections.
"Roots and Reflections: Identity, Memory, and Historical Echoes" explores personal experience, family memory, and historical consciousness—examining how young artists reimagine identities through cross-cultural exchange and translate traditions into living cultural DNA.
"Image and World-Making: Perception, Imagination, and Possible Worlds" presents realms built through imagination and cross-media experimentation, finding inspiration in everyday routines and dreams -offering poetic or playful responses to reality.
"Inquiring into Things, Creating the New: Technology, Materials, and Value Reimagined" investigates how digital technologies and new materials are redefining artistic creation and valuation.
Through dialogue, exhibition, and digital connectivity, Grand Tour 2026 affirms that art knows no borders and that culture resonates across the seas.
