More than 9 million yuan ($1.28 million) were raised at the annual charity gala held by the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art on Sunday in Beijing. The proceeds will fund the 12-year-old institution inside the capital's 798 art compound to carry out more academic research and public programs, including the construction of a library in 2020. It also announced the opening of a new space in Shanghai in 2021.

2019 has seen highly popular exhibitions at UCCA, such as "Picasso -- Birth of a Genius" and "Matthew Barney: Redoubt", drawing an influx of visitors.

The institution hopes to invest more energy in academic research, publications and art education, igniting more people's interest in art.

The UCCA library will not only support the work of its researchers and curators, but will also open to scholars, students and the general public interested in the development of contemporary Chinese art.

The Shanghai space will host independently curated exhibitions by its staff members alongside a space dedicated to displaying works of up-and-coming artists.