On the morning of October 25, the 2019 Hubei Folk Craft Skills Competition &National Lacquer Art Invitational opened at Hubei Folk Craft Technician College(HFCTC). Nearly 300 participants from 9 provinces and municipalities, as wellas 17 cities, prefectures and directly administered cities of Hubei gathered inJingzhou. Present at the opening ceremony were Zeng Xiangyang, Member of theParty Leadership Group and Deputy Director General of the Human Resources andSocial Security Department of Hubei Province (HBHRSSD); Sun Yuqiu, Vice Mayorof the Jingzhou Municipal People's Government; Ren Jianxin, Vice President ofthe China National Arts and Crafts Society (CNACS); Kevin Murray, VicePresident of the World Craft Council-Asia Pacific Region, as well as specialguests.

The competition was hosted by HBHRSSD, theJingzhou Municipal People's Government and CNACS, and organized by the JingzhouMunicipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security, the Jingzhou MunicipalAdministration of Culture and Tourism and HFCTC.

The 2019 Hubei Folk Craft Skills Competition attracted 214 outstanding folk artisans from17 cities, prefectures and directly administered cities of Hubei. The oldestparticipant aged 78 is from Yichang and the youngest aged 17 is from Jingzhou.They will compete in 7 events: lacquer art, paper cutting, embroidery,ceramics, clay sculpture, root carving and wood carving.

The National Lacquer Art Invitational is an initiativemajor lacquer art competition in China. 72 capable lacquer artisans from 9provinces and municipalities, recommended by the Lacquer Art Inheritance andDevelopment Alliance, will compete for awards in the categories of lacqueringbasics, carving and lacquer decoration.

The National Lacquer Art Invitational is aimed topromote the creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese lacquerculture and explore innovation in models of intangible cultural heritage craftinheritance. It is of great realistic significance to cultivating and promotingthe spirit of craftsmanship. As a rehearsal of the 2021 WorldSkills Competitionin Shanghai, it will play a leading role in introducing Chinese folk crafts tothe world.