(1) Background

As an important bridge for cultural exchange between China and the West, Macau has developed a distinctive cultural identity in which Chinese culture forms the foundation and diverse cultures coexist. This identity has evolved through longstanding encounters and mutual learning across cultures. The city's rich historical and cultural resources, diverse forms of artistic expression, and cultural environment combining local character with an international outlook provide a strong foundation for research in art theory, art history and arts education. They also create favourable conditions for universities to nurture artistic talent, advance aesthetic education and contribute to cultural development in the wider community.

Arts education encompasses the transmission of knowledge, the cultivation of aesthetic awareness, the preservation of cultural heritage and the encouragement of innovation. It is an essential part of higher education's commitment to developing well-rounded individuals with a humanistic outlook. By drawing on Macau's distinctive cultural context and connecting art research with educational practice, the Center seeks to deepen understanding of local art and culture, broaden academic perspectives on artistic exchange between China and the wider world, and support the development of Macau's cultural and creative sectors and public cultural services.

Established in November 2016, the Art Education Research Center at City University of Macau focuses on art theory and art history. Its research spans foundational theories of Chinese and international art, aesthetics, art history and art criticism. The Center brings together research teams through flexible appointments, including specially appointed and part-time research fellows, to produce high-quality scholarly articles and monographs. It also regularly organises the "Arts on Campus" programme, inviting renowned arts groups to present performances and exhibitions at the University. These activities are open to the local community, encouraging cultural exchange between the campus and the wider public.

Building on this foundation, the Center supports the academic development of the Faculty of Innovation and Design at City University of Macau by bringing together academic and artistic resources from within and beyond the University. It continues to explore approaches to arts education that reflect Macau's cultural character, supporting the Faculty's teaching, research and community engagement.

(2) Institutional Status

The Art Education Research Center is a non-profit academic research institution within the Faculty of Innovation and Design at City University of Macau.

(3) Mission and Guiding Principles

The Center is guided by a commitment to local culture, education through the arts and aesthetic experience, and exchange between China and the wider world. Its mission is to advance scholarship in the arts, enhance the quality of arts education and cultivate a humanistic outlook. By encouraging the interplay of artistic knowledge, aesthetic experience and creative thinking, the Center seeks to nurture individuals with cultural literacy, aesthetic judgement and a capacity for innovation, while strengthening public understanding of and participation in the arts.

(4) Key Responsibilities

The Center focuses on art theory, art history, aesthetics and art criticism, with particular attention to Macau's local art and culture and artistic exchange between China and the wider world. It forms interdisciplinary research teams to produce high-quality scholarship and translate research findings into practice. Through thematic seminars, academic lectures and institutional partnerships, the Center strengthens the connection between research and teaching. It also continues to organise the "Arts on Campus" programme, offering high-quality performances and exhibitions to both the University and the local community, thereby extending the contribution of arts education to public life.

(5) Vision

The Center aspires to become an academic platform with a distinctive Macau identity, regional influence and an international outlook. It aims to play a leading role in arts education, art research and cultural and creative development in Macau, making a sustained contribution to the preservation and renewal of the city's culture and to its development as a city enriched by the arts and humanities.