China Institute
125 East 65th Street
New York, NY 10021
(212) 744-8181
www.chinainstitute.org/

Founded in 1926, China Institute is the oldest bicultural organization in America focusing on China. Its mission is to promote understanding between Americans and Chinese through educational and cultural programs.

To accomplish this mission, China Institute offers a very wide variety of programs, activities, lectures, presentations, and exhibits throughout the year. A small sampling of typical activities includes:

• Films by Chinese American directors -- not what your average TV-watching American might expect!
• Eye-opening lectures and slide shows on aspects of Chinese culture and religion
• An exhibition and auction of Chinese Peasant Paintings -- beautiful, beautiful works of art!
• Courses on Chinese Calligraphy and Painting (for individual students)
• A Course on Basic Chinese Cooking.

There are many other interesting exhibits and things to do and learn. Chinese New Year Programs and Gallery Tours, for instance, take place October through May, emphasizing the rituals and customs associated with the most important and festive holiday of the year. Gallery Exhibitions throughout the year offer rare glimpses into Chinese art and culture, with works of art ranging from Chinese bronzes to photographs of ethnic minorities from China's western frontiers. Anyone interested can write for a 30 page booklet and calendar.

For School Groups, the China Institute is a valuable resource for entertaining activities that teach kids about the people of China and their lives. Exhibition-related programs for school groups include a tour of the Institute's exhibitions.

For students, In-School Courses are offered to teach students to speak, read, and write simple Chinese. Calligraphy is China's most revered art form. From its early beginning as "picture writing," it still retains a pictographic quality. Another in-school program can be custom-developed to teach students of any ages things like Beijing Opera Face Painting, Chinese Paper-Cutting, Paper Folding, and many other features of the culture.