A British creative culture, arts, music and dance reception

The UK-China Creative Social is an opportunity to highlight areas of collaboration in Arts, Culture, Dance and Music. The British Chamber, in collaboration with Jin Shang, is delighted to bring the UK’s creative arts culture to our community here in China, inviting leading voices to discuss the development of British creative arts scene, as well as cultural and education exchange in China. 

Guests can enjoy musical performances from RSL Awards Limited and David S McDermott.

Keynote Speech

British Council

Danny Whitehead

Deputy Director 

Danny Whitehead is the Deputy Director at the British Council China. He has worked in international cultural relations for over 20 years in Asia and Africa, the last six years of which he has spent as the British Council’s Country Director in Iran and Vietnam.

Danny’s academic research interests and publications are in the fields of language and development and sociolinguistics. He is also a theatre professional and playwright.

British Creative Arts in China 

WTL Design and Jinshang group

Lilian Tian

CEO and Founder

As founder and design director of WTL Design, I have been involved with the interior design industry in China since the 1990s. I am continuously inspired by foreign cultures, mindsets, and practices. Using this to grow WTL Design with a unique mix of international best practices and Chinese spirit.

In developing my companies, I wanted to create a workspace that celebrated community, embraced technology and design, and encouraged passion. Most importantly, I wanted to create a workspace in which my team members would be proud to walk in every day and to enhance the quality of their professional and private lives. This led me to begin the JinShang Group. To invest in large spaces that I had the vision to shape. JinShang is a space that breaks down barriers and embraces multi-discipline and a multi-functional community. JinShang was born, not only for a place to work – but a place to thrive.

Some publication mentions from outfits such as; AD+, Hotelers, IDEAT, Decoration World, and InStyle.

Jinshang

David S McDermott

Artist  

David S McDermott is a painter from UK. His surrealist artwork has exhibited in international exhibitions and festivals including Italy, New York, Netherlands, Hong Kong and Beijing. One of his most famous patrons was the great Muhammad Ali.

He has been an art teacher in the US and the UK for decades, and he also teaches music and guitar. He started to paint when he was only three years old. His work is not meant to sensationalize, rather an honest expression of how he sees the world.

The Conservatory of International Style and Cultural Arts 

Flora Zeta Cheong-Leen

Founder

Flora Zeta Cheong-Leen is born in Hong Kong and was trained at Jean M. Wong School of Ballet from the age of five. At 11 years of age, she was the first Chinese to have been accepted into the Royal Ballet School, White Lodge, in London. Upon graduation from the Royal Ballet Senior

School, she was selected to join the Royal Ballet Company at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

Returning to Hong Kong, Flora worked as a dancer and choreographer for the Hong Kong Ballet, as well as an actor and fashion designer. She was invited to become a member of the Board of Governors and Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Ballet, a member of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Ballet Group and the vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Civic Association.

 Flora is the Artistic Director and Choreographer of Techno Artists Production and concentrates her artistic endeavours in performing arts, films, costume and fashion designing. She founded Tian Art Fashion Design House in Hong Kong and London in 1991 and showcased her own design around the world.

Flora is actively involved in numerous charitable organizations through her Tian Art Foundation since 1999. She established her performing arts school, The Conservatory of International Style and Cultural Arts (CISCA) in Beijing in 2009, and found Ballet Octahedron (Wu Tian Yuan) in 2013.

Flora was awarded the Ten Most Outstanding Young Persons Award in 1990 in Hong Kong, The French Chamber of commerce Award of "Women of 21st Century" in 2000, China International Grand Master Fashion Designer Award in 2003 and The World Outstanding Chinese Business and Art Award in 2007 and received the Honorary Doctorate.

RSL Awards Limited

Lillian Lan

Vice President 

Lillian Lan is now working as the Vice President for RSL Awards Limited, a London based contemporary and performing arts qualification exams body. She holds a degree in English Literature from Peking University, followed by more than 10 years working experiences as an Human Resources professional at Accenture, PwC, IBM and Texas Instruments. Since her introduction of RSL qualifications to the Chinese market in 2015, China has become the biggest overseas market of RSL and sees continuous business growth.

Lillian was a percussionist and used to massively performed during her school time with 3 albums released. In her spare time, she enjoyed painting, gym work-out, sculpturing and all sorts of handicraft related activities, and a column writer for pet magazine.

Jo Kedian

British Artist and Educator

Jo has been working as an artist and educator for the last 27 years in the UK, including 6 years’ experience in China. Jo graduated from John Moores University with a BA Hons degree in Fine Art specializing in painting, she has continued her studies in Art History. Jo has received the AHRC award to achieve an MA Contemporary Fine Art at Salford University, specializing in photography and print. Jo maintains her own art practice, Jo has had the opportunity to be part of a group exhibition at the Tate, Liverpool. Jo has had solo shows in the UK and group exhibitions in the UK and Beijing.

Jo’s teaching experiences has been wide and varied, giving her the opportunity to experience different educational institutions and different philosophies at work in the classroom and in the art studio. Jo has helped and advised with courses and critical studies work, preparing students for exam work and for interviews at colleges; as well as preparing new teachers for their roles ahead. During Jo’s teaching experience, she has enjoyed teaching all ages and abilities and she has employed a variety of teaching methods to maintain and develop creative thinking with her students. Working with a variety of materials and techniques; Jo can deliver a wide range of art and design pathways. Art is something Jo enjoys immensely and bringing that experience in to the classroom.

Friday 21 July

5:30PM - 8:00PM

Jinshang Garden Theater, Beijing 

北京市朝阳新源里西20号金尚人间草木室内花园

BritCham members: RMB 100

Non-members: RMB 200 

Member can bring one friend for free

Tickets include entry, one drink and canapes

To register for the event, please scan the QR code or contact BritCham Membership Manager Hanwei with any questions:

[e-mail]

Thank you to our Sustaining Members!