The construction of theaters, opera houses, and other cultural facilities by China as gifts to foreign countries is a part of China's foreign aid program.[1] In a white paper published by China in 2009 on its aid projects in the area of civil construction, the building of cultural facilities is one of the types identified among a total of 2,025 projects stated as built by a Chinese grant or no-interest loan to the recipient country.[1]
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Algeria
Cameroon
- The Palais des Congrès de Yaoundé was built by China and opened in 1982. The venue is a 1,500-seat multipurpose performance hall with "an ultra-modern stage boasting the country's best sound and lighting equipment."[3]
Ghana
- The National Theatre in Accra was opened in January 1993 after construction by China.[4] The theatre is a gift as the loan from China funding the construction would later be cancelled in 2007. China granted a further US$2 million to refurbish the theatre for Ghana's golden jubilee celebrations.
- The Drama Studio at the University of Ghana at Legon was built under the program as the original work on the National Theatre.[4]
Mauritius
- The Plaza Theatre in Rose Hill was renovated in 2008 using funds provided by China in the form of a non-interest loan.[5]
Senegal
- The Grand Theatre in Dakar was constructed from 2008 to 2011 by Complant as a gift.[6] The six-storey, 1800-seat theatre was built at a cost of 16 billion CFA francs, of which China paid 14 billion CFA francs and Senegal contributed the rest.[6]
- Construction on a Museum of Black Civilization located in Dakar began in 2011, funded by a grant of $US30 million from China.[7] The contractor for the project is the Shanghai Construction Group.
Somalia
- National Theatre of Somalia was built by China as a gift to Somalia in 1967.[8]
Sri Lanka
- Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre is theatre in Colombo built in 2011 by China as gift to enhance ties with Sri Lanka.[9] Construction of the 1288-seat venue was handled by the Yanjian Group.[9]
Trinidad and Tobago
- National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port of Spain
References
edit- ^ a b "China's Foreign Aid". Xinhua. 2011-04-21. Archived from the original on May 2, 2011.
- ^ a b "China hopes to hit the right note with Algeria opera house". The Guardian. April 29, 2013.
- ^ Rubin, Don (1997). The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: Africa. Taylor & Francis. p. 87.
- ^ a b Barnham, Martin (2004). A History of Theatre in Africa. Cambridge University Press. p. 167.
- ^ "Interest-free loan for Plaza Theatre". AidData.
- ^ a b "Senegal opens Chinese-built theatre". AFP. April 15, 2011.[dead link]
- ^ "Senegal's president lays foundation stone for Black Civilization Museum". Xinhua. December 21, 2011. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014.
- ^ "Somalia national theatre reopens after 20 years". The Telegraph. 20 March 2012.
- ^ a b "Artistic talent to flower with Chinese generosity". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). December 11, 2011.