Curators at ART SG commend virtual exhibition "China Crafted"

Curators and educators joining the ART SG 2026 in Singapore this weekend commended virtual exhibition "China Crafted" produced by China Global Television Network (CGTN) as a great resource for people to get a deeper understanding of Chinese art and culture.

CGTN showcased China Crafted, the latest season of the CGTN Art Series, alongside the previous seasons of the series at ART SG 2026 from Friday to Sunday.

China Crafted is a virtual exhibition that invites viewers to immerse in the beauty of ancient Chinese artifacts from four major Chinese dynasties: Shang, Han, Tang and Song.

The multimedia product features over 100 representative artifacts from more than 30 partner museums worldwide.

Through four interactive webpages and four original video productions featuring animations and expert interviews, the exhibition explores the intricate techniques behind the artifacts as well as the spiritual and cultural values embedded in them.

China Crafted uniquely blends historical storytelling with cutting-edge digital technology, creating an experience that is both educational and visually captivating.

"We are delighted at ART SG that we've been able to partner with CGTN this year on their China Crafted exhibition. It's been a great pleasure to welcome them here," said Magnus Renfrew, co-founder of ART SG, while attending a CGTN special dialogue titled "When Classics Inspire" at ART SG on Saturday.

"Really want to extend a very hearty congratulations to CGTN for this wonderful art series. I think it's a very great resource for our students, and I'm going to ask all my students to go check it out," said Tan-Soh Wai Lan, president of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.

"Well, I'd like to congratulate the wonderful team at CGTN for bringing China Crafted to us, and really creating this digital exhibition that will be so accessible to a broad range of audiences and diverse publics, who will be able to kind of benefit from having access to all this knowledge, and also to look at all these different artifacts. And it's also told in a very compelling way in terms of the storytelling," said Seng Yu Jin, director (of curatorial, research and exhibitions) at the National Gallery Singapore.

"No matter you like Chinese art or not, if you don't like it, I believe that after watching all these wonderful exhibitions, you will start to get inspired. And if you know Chinese art, I strongly recommend you spend more time with the exhibitions. You'll learn more and more," said Kevin Lam, senior curator for Chinese Art at the Asian Civilizations Museum.

Now in its fourth edition, this year's ART SG brings together 106 galleries and art institutions from over 30 countries and regions, attracting collectors, artists, curators, representatives of global brands, museum professionals and academic communities.

Curators at ART SG commend virtual exhibition "China Crafted"

Curators at ART SG commend virtual exhibition "China Crafted"

In South Sudan, education is being championed as a foundation for peace, but ongoing conflict and poverty continue to deprive millions of children of the opportunity to learn.

The South Sudanese government said education is crucial to building peace, promoting social cohesion, and equipping young people with skills to resolve conflict.

Some schools, including one in the capital Juba, have even established "peace centers" where students are trained in leadership and peacebuilding. Schools are also playing a role in tackling harmful practices like early and forced marriage.

"We normally inform them that in case they encounter such challenges, you come directly to school, we will be able to support you. Whatever support that is required, is always availed to them," said Chol Reuben Maken, school principal.

Despite these initiatives, the education sector is in crisis. According to UNICEF, South Sudan has one of the highest rates of out-of-school children in the world, with girls making up 75 percent. Over 2.2 million children, more than half of the country's youth population, are not attending school.

The key barriers are poverty and ongoing violence.

"General poverty is a real challenge to many families and therefore access to education becomes less of a priority if you need to feed yourself and cover other basic needs. There are also climate-related events that affect access to education. South Sudan is prone to flooding and it's also prone to heat waves," said Emilie Roy, education chief of UNICEF South Sudan.

The government said it is investing in education as a long-term tool for positive change, stressing that the impact of education goes far beyond academic achievement.

Educated children, officials said, become advocates and peacebuilders who push for equality and challenge harmful practices within their communities, planting the seeds for a more peaceful future.

Still, the challenges are enormous. Many children simply have no schools to attend due to a lack of infrastructure, and where schools do operate, chronic staff shortages and unpaid salaries have left the system struggling.

"My biggest thank you is to my colleagues, the teachers, the teachers of this country that have persevered through all the challenges to make sure that education is progressing and that our kids are taught," said Kuyok Abol Kuyok, minister of General Education.

While UNICEF maintains that education is a primary tool for promoting long-term stability, they also warn that without immediate peace in the country, the opportunity for an education will remain a far off dream for many.

Education seen as peace tool in South Sudan