The Guangzhou Museum of Art is a major cultural establishment in the province and the largest of its kind in China. Equipped with modern facilities, this museum, like the best art museums in advanced countries, is a place where works of art are preserved, studied and displayed. The museum also promotes education and cultural exchange. With a total area of 20,000 square meters and a display area of over 8,000 square meters, the Guangdong Museum of Art consists of twelve exhibition halls, in which exhibitions of both large- and small-scale work may be shown. The 300-seat auditorium has an advanced projection and video facilities. It is an ideal place for holding international academic conferences and presenting films. In addition, there are special areas devoted to education and various kinds of service

Though better known for his studies in Chinese archaeology, Wu Hung has established himself in recent years, as a leading commentator on contemporary art. As chief curator he discusses `Global and Local, one of the main themes of the Triennial.

In as much as the concerns of China in the past decade are crystallized in the artworks on view, the curatorial panel, with its intriguing mix of institutional and independent specialists, characterizes contemporary art practices. Wu Hung, museum director Wang Huangsheng and panel member Feng Boyi believe that the The First Guangzhou Triennial will set itself apart from its counterparts in other cities in the world.

There are several programs to accompany the Guangzhou Triennial opening on Nov. 18th. A seminar on international curatorial programs will begin two days prior to the opening in Hong Kong, co-sponsored by the Guangdong Museum of Art (Triennial sponsor, co-curator, exhibition venue) and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. The idea is to run the seminar for two days in HKG before Guangzhou and two days in Guangzhou, post 18th Nov. opening.