The China Academy of Fine Arts celebrated the inauguration of its new campus in Shanghai on Dec 4.

Located in the suburb of Lingang New City, the campus will be home to the Sino-French Institute of Arts and Design Management, an unprecedented collaboration between China's leading college of fine arts and the Kedge Business School in France.

"We decided to build this partnership because there is a very strong need in China and throughout the whole world for people who can bridge art, design and management," said Thomas Froehlicher, director general of Kedge.

The partnership between CAFA and Kedge was established last year while China and France were celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations.

During a visit to Lingang New City, CAFA President Fan Di'an convinced the local administration to give the new institute a home.

CAFA has more than 10 years experience providing art and management courses, Fan said, adding that the new institute will bring international vision and help to cultivate new talent needed in the development of China's creative industries.

When completed, the campus will cover an area of 35,000 square meters by Dishui Lake in Lingang. The first phase of construction, consisting of classrooms, exhibition spaces and a library, is complete. Work on the second phase, which includes support facilities such as sports fields and landscaping, is underway by Shanghai Gangcheng Development Co. All educational equipment and research facilities will be provided by CAFA.