Expo 2010 Shanghai China launched a public solicitation drive on June 1, 2009, to find suitable cultural and artistic performances for the upcoming World Expo to promote cultural exchanges between countries, demonstrate Chinese culture at its best and promote cultural innovation.

The Publicity Department of CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, Shanghai Expo Bureau and Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film & TV launched the drive in adherence to the guidelines set out by the Expo 2010 Shanghai China Executive Committee. These include ensuring that the batch of programs selected, which will only form a part of the entire program, are consistent with the "Better City, Better Life" theme.

For this round, programs falling into the following three categories will be solicited: daily cultural and artistic performances from China; events or programs suitable for buskers to perform within the Expo Site and community activities from various districts and counties within Shanghai.

The public solicitation campaign will run until November 30 this year. It consists of four phases: release, public solicitation, selection and proclamation. On June 1, an announcement about the drive was formally issued. From June 1 until August 31 of this year, declarations for programs will be accepted, with August 31 serving as the deadline. Programs will then be selected in September, with results made public by the end of November.

Materials that candidates shall submit include: a Declaration Form for the Public Solicitation of the Expo 2010 Shanghai China for Cultural and Artistic Performances (which can be downloaded from the official Shanghai Expo website at www.expo2010.cn); a copy of the candidate's identity card and materials relevant to the Declaration Form and program (these can be in written, visual or audio form).

For this round of public solicitation, no electronic declaration will be accepted. All materials from candidates shall be posted to the designated address by mail or by express delivery. All letters must have the line "Candidate for Expo Cultural and Artistic Performances" annotated on the upper left corner of the envelope.

The three categories of events subject to the public solicitation are as follows:

1. Programs of daily cultural and artistic performances publicly solicited by the Expo 2010 Shanghai China from various circles in Shanghai, all regions in China

Daily cultural and artistic performances for Expo 2010 Shanghai China refers to various cultural and artistic performances staged within the Expo Site by countries, international organizations, cities, participating enterprises and various provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China. This excludes those staged on Museum Days, Honor Days, Special Event Weeks and Event Weeks, which will be staged by various bodies, in various modes and at various venues.

(1) Contents to be publicly solicited

Programs of daily cultural and artistic performances shall be publicly solicited from China. There will be no limits in terms of age or art modes for candidate programs, although performers are restricted to stay within a 45-minute timeframe and incorporate no more than 100 people.

(2) Performance arrangement

The Expo organizer will offer an appropriate venue depending on the characteristics of the program and the performance scale. The organizer will provide convenient access to the Expo Site. Performers shall provide themselves with the necessary garments, cosmetics, stage properties and musical instruments.

(3) Send to

Events Department, Bureau of Shanghai Expo Coordination

Building 4, No. 3588, Pudong (S) Road, Shanghai

Post Code: 200125.