A Chinese senior official called for public cultural institutions to offer more free performances to the public during a visit to the National Grand Theater on Friday.
Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, visited the theater in downtown Beijing.
The theater should organize free or low-cost performances for the public and enable young people to enjoy the arts, Li told managers at the theater, which is still undergoing interior decoration.
The National Grand Theater, a landmark building begun in 2001, is almost complete and its debut performance is scheduled for the end of this month.
The theater is one of the nation's important cultural facilities and should make a priority of "social benefit", Li said after hearing a briefing on the theater.
The National Grand Theater was located just west of the Tian'anmen Square with the Great Hall of the People to the east and Zhongnanhai, the compound where Chinese leaders work and live, to the north.
Designed by Aeroports de Paris with assistance from Tsinghua University, the theater has been given a futuristic egg-like structure contrasting with surrounding buildings in traditional Chinese styles.
The theater consists of a music hall, drama room and opera house and will cost a total of 2.6 billion yuan (34.4 million U.S. dollars). It will have seating for 5,500.
Li Changchun also suggested local officials should compile experiences gained in constructing the theater to guide other state-run theaters in construction and management.
Source: Xinhua
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