China Federation of Literary and Arts Circles

(Zhongguo wenxue yishujie lianhehui)

Founded in 1949, the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC; Zhongguo wenlian, for short; www.cflac.org.cn) is a national network with forty-nine regional branches (e.g. Shanghai Federation of Literary and Arts Circles; Shanghai wenlian, for short) and more than two million registered members. The CFLAG is composed of twelve member associations in literature, film, drama, fine arts, music, folk-art forms (including quyi), dance, photography, calligraphy, folk art and literature (minjian wenyi), acrobatics and TV art (see Xiqu on television). Among these associations, the Chinese Writers’ Association (CWA), which also has thirty-nine local associations, is the largest group.

Collaboration enables the CFLAC to conduct many large-scale activities, including national conferences and forums, art exhibitions and international exchanges. Though characterized as a non-governmental organization or ‘people’s group’ (renmin tuanti), its major associations, like the CWA, are government organizations. In fact, the CFLAC is treated as a government organization under the direct supervision of the CCP. The CFLAC runs over forty literary and arts publications (see literary periodicals), including newspapers, and also owns businesses such as the CFLAC Press (Zhongguo wenlian chubanshe), multimedia presses, travel agencies and hostels. These businesses generate revenue in addition to the state allocation and membership dues.

HELEN XIAOYAN WU