On the morning of July 15th, the “Artist-in-Residence” appointment ceremony for the famous Huangmei Opera artist Ms. HAN Zaifen was held in the conference room in Undergraduate School in Middle Campus. Mr. ZENG Changgan, director of the Undergraduate Education Office, presided over the appointment ceremony.
Mr. ZHOU Congzhao, vice president of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), said in his speech that the “Artist-in-Residence” project is in accordance with the nation’s spirit of carrying out all-round education and aesthetic education. Ms. HAN is the first “Artist-in-Residence” to bring the excellent traditional Chinese culture to USTC, assisting in enhancing the artistic atmosphere on campus.

USTC vice president Mr. ZHOU Congzhao issued the letter of appointment to Ms. HAN
Ms. HAN Zaifen, a famous Huangmei Opera artist, expressed that, she was deeply impressed by the students and teachers when she performed in the Great Hall on our campus. It is her honor and duty to be an “Artist-in-Residence” of USTC. She said she will bring more traditional Chinese culture to USTC, and assist us in establishing our own Huangmei Opera club, so that students can not only hear and watch the performance of Huangmei Opera, but also sing and perform it personally to experience Huangmei Opera.

Student representatives from art clubs had a lively exchange with Ms. HAN Zaifen, who provided professional answers to the students' questions.

After the ceremony, USTC president Mr. BAO Xinhe presented a souvenir to Ms. HAN to welcome her.
The plan of “Artist-in-Residence” is initiated by USTC Art Teaching Center. The project would regularly invite the state-of-the-art professional artists from various art fields all over the world to our campus. The artists will engage in artistic creation, and communicate with all students and teachers. It is aimed at “enhancing aesthetic and humanistic qualities of students, so as to cultivate their sentiments, warm their hearts and stimulate their innovation vitality”.
Ms. HAN Zaifen is a national first-class actor and the representative successor of the State-Level Non-Material Cultural Heritage Project (Huangmei Opera). She is the vice-chairman of China Theatre Association, chairman of Theatre Association of Anhui Province, president of Anqing City Federation of Literary and Art Circles as well as the director of Anqing City Zaifen Huangmei Opera Art Theatre. She has won Plum Performance Award, Wenhua Performance Award and The Magnolia Award for Opera twice. She was also awarded “the national artist with professional excellence and moral integrity” title.
(Written by LI Ang, edited by JIANG Pengcen, USTC New Center)