Three events will be held in celebration of the 10th Anniversary.
In 2007, URI became one of 20 Confucius Institutes in the United States and one of 150 in the world. URI’s Confucius Institute creates formal ties between the University and China’s Zhejiang University to strengthen and promote educational programs and exchanges, broadening global opportunities for students, faculty, and the larger community.
“The Confucius Institute plays an important role on the campus, and is a way to promote multicultural, and cross cultural communication, and diversity, which strengthens the University’s connection with China. Our work is very meaningful not only to the University but to the state of Rhode Island,” said Wayne He, associate professor of Chinese and director of the URI Chinese Language Flagship Program and the Confucius Institute at URI.
The complete schedule is as follows:
• Sept. 24, “Art to Poetry to Music,” An Exploration of Traditional Chinese Calligraphy, Chinese Guzheng Music, Poetry & Western Music, noon to 2 p.m., Edwards Hall Auditorium. Distinguished Chinese calligrapher and painter Hong Zhao will offer a free Chinese Calligraphy lecture accompanied by Siwen Long, and URI student musicians.
• Sept. 26, URI Moon Festival with Zhejiang University’s Wenqin Performing Arts Troupe, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Edwards Hall Auditorium. Zhejiang University’s Wenqin Performing Arts Troupe will perform folk dances, martial arts, Chinese classical music, Peking opera, and more. Free moon cakes will be handed out upon arrival.
• Sept. 27, WaterFire, Sunset 6:36 p.m., Providence, R.I. In honor of World Confucius Institute Day, The WaterFire Providence Lighting will be co-sponsored by the URI Confucius Institute and its partner Confucius Institutes at Bryant University, The University of Massachusetts, Boston, Central Connecticut State University, and the University of New Hampshire. Zhejiang University’s Wenqin Performing Arts Troupe will perform on the Steeple Street Stage and the five Confucius Institutes will offer interactive cultural activities.
All events are free and open to the public.
This release was written by Caitlin Musselman, a URI Communications and Marketing intern and a public relations and political science major.