On November 3, 2019 UCCA Center for Contemporary Art presents its annual gala, with the theme of “From Bauhaus to Our House.” Held annually on the first Sunday of every November, the gala is UCCA’s most important fundraising event of the year, as well as a highlight of the social calendar for the arts community in Beijing and further afield. This year’s gala brings a special focus on the strengthening and expansion of UCCA Foundation’s philanthropic and academic initiatives, with all proceeds going towards its efforts in these areas. UCCA will welcome over 500 of its closest friends and supporters, showing their support of the museum’s mission as a socially-responsible, public-facing art institution, all while enjoying an unforgettable evening of art, culture, and fine food and wine.

UCCA Gala 2019 theme pays tribute to the Bauhaus School, which celebrates its centenary this year. Since its founding in Weimar in 1919, the Bauhaus has reshaped modern life through its exhortation towards creative and liberated thinking, and integration of art and design into daily life. These values have directly influenced UCCA’s core beliefs that art can deepen lives and transcend boundaries, ideals towards which it has been striving since its founding in 2007. Underscoring the museum’s connection with the Bauhaus, UCCA Beijing is housed in factory chambers built in the 1950s and designed by East German architects of the Dessau Design Institute, the postwar successor to the Bauhaus Dessau. It is in the inspiring architectural setting of its Open Gallery that UCCA has invited leading representatives of its community, from across diverse disciplines and industries, to come together and celebrate its continued efforts promoting deeper cultural exchange between China and the wider world, and sharing the power of art with an ever-growing audience.

So far this year, UCCA has staged 9 exhibitions featuring artists from China and abroad, from emerging voices to modern masters. The landmark exhibition “Picasso – Birth of a Genius,” undertaken in collaboration with the Musée national Picasso-Paris, stands as the most significant exhibition of the artist in China to date. The highest levels of both the Chinese and French governments have recognized the exhibition as a milestone in the history of cultural exchange between the two nations. Other exhibitions include “Civilization: The Way We Live Now,” a comprehensive portrait of contemporary life through the medium of photography, the two-part survey “Society Guidance,” a critical review of the development of Chinese contemporary art in the 1990s, and solo shows for Qiu Zhijie and Yu Honglei. UCCA was also proud to present the first solo exhibition in China for the groundbreaking contemporary artist Matthew Barney. UCCA’s second museum, UCCA Dune, in Aranya in Beidaihe, celebrated its first anniversary in 2019. Continuing its curatorial focus on reimagining of the relationship between humans and nature, the museum hosted group exhibitions “Land of the Lustrous” and “Notes from Pallet Town.”

In addition to the aforementioned exhibitions, UCCA has thus far in 2019 hosted 240 public events, including discussions, workshops, and other programs for academic exchange, actively locating Chinese contemporary art within a global context. Over the course of its comprehensive restructuring in 2018, UCCA successful transitioned from the model of a founder-operated private museum to that of a true non-profit organization. Continuing its efforts in this arena and reflecting its status as a leader amongst Chinese art institutions, over the coming year UCCA will steadfastly continue the development of its academic programs, through special research, publications, and art education projects, as well the establishment of the UCCA Library, which will provide an invaluable resource for not only the museum’s curatorial and research teams, but also for scholars, students, and the wider public. Featuring a range of physical and electronic materials drawn from or related to UCCA’s institutional history, Chinese art, and contemporary culture in general, the UCCA Library shall make these important resources accessible to a larger audience.

UCCA’s 2018 formal accreditation as a museum from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture, and licensing as the non-profit Beijing UCCA Art Foundation, have also expanded its perspective beyond its role as a culturally influential museum; the institution has a new awareness of its social responsibility and ability to make a difference in community welfare. Under the banner of the initiative “Opening the Door to Art,” aimed at spreading art to children from underserved communities, in 2019 UCCA Foundation launched the philanthropic programs “UCCA Junior Docents,” and “The Way to Genius,” among others. From January to October, 2019, UCCA Foundation completed more than 50 charity events for children, collaborating with more than twenty two different schools and institutions, giving around 2000 young students the opportunity to experience art education for the first time. Over the exhibition period of “Picasso – Birth of a Genius,” 28 Junior Docents guided more than 17, 380 guests through the exhibition, including 1067 of their peers, who had never had the chance to visit an art museum before. Furthermore, UCCA Foundation has worked together with the China Poverty Alleviation Foundation, Red Cross China, and the China Women’s Development Foundation to stage philanthropic events, tours, and art education classes, striving to bring art to children in some of China’s most remote areas, sharing art’s transformative power with them and encouraging them to follow their dreams.

As such, while in previous years the UCCA Gala has been a key source of support for the museum’s daily operations, this year proceeds from the evening will exclusively go towards UCCA Foundation’s academic and philanthropic programs. The highlight of the evening will be the Benefit Auction, featuring generously donated work from 22 artists both local and international, who have either exhibited at UCCA or otherwise serve as important members of the museum’s close-knit, global community. Listed in alphabetical order, they are: Chen Chenchen, Chen Fei, Leelee Chan, Chen Xi, Daniel Arsham, Matthew Barney, Francesco Bonami, Gao Ludi, Guo Hongwei, Hong Hao, Huang Qitan, Ju Ting, Li Jingxiong, Lin Ke, Julia Long, Wang Huangsheng, Wen Yipei, Wu Shanzhuan, Yu Hong, Yu Honglei, Yuan Yuan, and Zhang Zipiao. UCCA is honored to welcome Felix Kwok, Sotheby’s Asia Director, to serve as auctioneer for the evening.

Besides the charity auction, and other donation opportunities, the UCCA Gala 2019 will for the first time feature a silent auction, offering the chance to bid on a number of exciting rewards and services to further support UCCA's outreach programs. Guests will also have the opportunity to join UCCA’s individual giving programs, including UCCA Contemporary Circle, or UCCA Young Associates, a new grouping launched in March 2019 with a focus on supporting the work of emerging artists. As an independent and public-facing art institution, UCCA is dedicated to contributing to the ongoing development of Chinese contemporary art. All funds raised at UCCA Gala 2019 will be used to support the continued growth of UCCA's academic and philanthropic programs.

Creative direction for this year’s UCCA Gala is provided by United Design Lab. UCCA thanks auction partner Sotheby’s and auctioneer Kelvin Kwok. Transportation and handling for the Benefit Auction artworks is provided by EAA Art. Clivet provides exclusive climate control support. Rosewood Beijing provides event support and SHEDE Spirits is the exclusive spirits partner for UCCA Gala 2019. UCCA thanks East Imperial, Peddlers Gin Company, and WinetoChina for special support. UCCA also thanks Action Media for video support, and Huiyiguanjia for technology support. 

This year’s Gala Dinner receives support from the following organizations or individuals who are hosting tables (in alphabetical order):

Foundation Table:

ART021, Bloomberg, Budweiser, Centrium Capital, Da Shi Hang Auto Co., David Zwirner, Focus Media, Gagosian, Gladstone Gallery, Hauser & Wirth, KWM Art Center and Massimo De Carlo, Long March Space, and Sotheby’s.

Contemporary Table:

Antenna Space and Xavier Hufkens, Beijing Contemporary, Boers-Li Gallery and Sadie Coles HQ, Christie’s, Esther Schipper, Galerie Urs Meile, Gallery Weekend Beijing, Magician Space and Galerie Chantal Crousel, Michael Werner, Phillips, Triumph Gallery, Tang Contemporary Art, White Cube, and White Space Beijing.