The Chinese Contemporary Art Centre in Manchester, which was closed in 2021 due to a series of controversies, is now continuing its activities with a new name and mission. However, this return is overshadowed by bitter events and deep social challenges.
Artistic Visions and Racial Challenges
In March 2020, visual artist JJ Chan was busy collecting home videos for a group exhibition titled "New Faces: The Chinese Diaspora Now." This work explored Chan's complex emotional relationship with Hong Kong, the birthplace of her parents. However, after the sudden departure of the initial curator, Chan faced a harsh reality: none of the gallery staff were Chinese. Out of 13 staff members, 12 were white, and most of the volunteers in public contact were also of Chinese descent.
Chan's concern that her art would be shaped through a white lens led her to withdraw from the project and send an open letter to the centre. In this letter, she wrote: "My experience and trauma are being used as a tool to enter an industry for an over-represented population."
Efforts for Diversity and Systemic Challenges
Subsequently, the organization hired seven Chinese artists to address the lack of diversity among the staff. However, this initiative faced criticism from artists regarding institutional racism in the gallery, and ultimately, this group of artists called for an international boycott of the institution, leading to the resignation of six board members and several staff. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, this art space never reopened.
Now, the centre is striving to emerge from the shadow of its past with a new mission to become a diverse and inclusive art space. However, the future of this institution remains uncertain, and it remains to be seen whether it can fulfill its promises.
