Pudong lets residents bid for cultural services

Liu Sihong / Ti Gong

Caption: People look around Minsheng Wharf to seek out good cultural products

Liu Sihong / Ti Gong

Caption: An artist from Shanghai Ruyi Yue Opera Troupe give a performance at the procurement conference to attract people to buy its products.

The three-day Pudong Public Cultural Service Products Procurement Conference ended on Saturday at the city’s emerging Minsheng Wharf cultural space along the Huangpu River.

Authorities usually spoon-feed residents with performances they may not like much and grassroots cultural facilities may not know where to introduce high-quality shows. But the Pudong New Area has returned choices to the people.

It introduced public bidding to supply cultural services as to better satisfy residents’ needs. Communities, towns and villages in Pudong actively engaged in the three-day auction.

Grassroots cultural facilities may be unable to afford expensive shows or lectures. So, this time about 300 products were priced below 1,000 yuan (US$144).

“Previously, we charged at least 5,000 for a show. This year, we lowered the price. It will give cultural facilities at neighborhood-level more alternatives,” said Tong Lijun from Shanghai Ruyi Yue Opera Troupe.

The event also became a platform for local intangible cultural heritage relics to make them known by more people.

Bao Yanhui, who promotes the woolen embroidery originating in Pudong’s Yangjing area, brought some products to display.

“We combined woolen embroidery with notebooks, bags and other commodities that people can use every day. So, it can remind people of our traditional handicraft art from time to time,” he said.

This year, 32 cultural institutions from 15 cities in the Yangtze River Delta also took part in the event.

Wanxin Reader from Anhui Province showcased a self-service library where readers can borrow and return books from the container-size “library“ by scanning their library cards.