9/3/2026
The Nottingham Confucius Institute (NCI), a joint venture between the University of Nottingham (UoN) and Fudan University, has successfully concluded its annual programme of events celebrating the Chinese New Year with a series of events that reached over 6,000 people across the East Midlands Region.
Throughout February, NCI delivered a diverse schedule combining spectacular stage performances with immersive cultural workshops, engaging University staff and students, local school pupils and residents from the wider Nottingham community.
Community Engagement and Hands-On Learning
The celebration featured a series of free cultural workshops tailored to participants of all ages. Events took place across multiple venues, beginning with a joint event with the UoN Residential Team in the Atrium on Jubilee Campus (18 Feb), followed by a session at Nottingham Central Library (20 Feb), and a full day of activities at Lakeside Arts (22 Feb). A celebratory event was also held at the ESLC building, organised jointly with the Faculties of Engineering and Science (25 Feb), with the programme concluding at the Nottingham Chinese School (28 Feb) with a dedicated workshop for children.
Throughout these sessions, attendees had the opportunity to try their hand at traditional arts including Chinese calligraphy, paper cutting, brush painting, wind chime making, and storytelling. The programme also included family-friendly hoopla games, ensuring a fun and educational experience for all.
Spectacular Stage Performances
Two major Gala Performances took place at Lakeside Arts on 22 February. These shows featured professional performers from the art troupe of the London South Bank University Confucius Institute, captivating audiences with a vibrant mix of traditional music, high-energy kung fu routines and a dynamic lion dance.
NCI also supported the annual Spring Festival Gala organised by the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) at the Albert Hall on 27 February, further extending the festivities to the city's wider student population.
Master Artist in Residence: Li Qingyu
A standout highlight was a special exhibition featuring the work of Mr Li Qingyu, which ran from 20 January to 27 February at both the Lakeside Arts Wallner Gallery and Nottingham Central Library. Mr Li, a national first-class artist—the highest honour achievable in China—boasts over 60 years of experience in Chinese brush painting.
NCI was honoured to host Mr Li in Nottingham from 24 to 28 February, where he delivered a series of exclusive sessions. These included a masterclass for the general public (25 Feb) and a public demonstration (26 Feb) at Lakeside Arts, a masterclass for A-Level art students from local secondary schools (26 Feb) and a beginner's workshop for UoN staff and students (27 Feb) at the Si Yuan Centre.
Reaching a Wide Audience
In total, the New Year celebrations reached a diverse cross-section of the community:
- Over 600 pupils from seven primary and secondary schools.
- Over 1,200 University of Nottingham staff and students.
- Over 4,200 local residents.
Acknowledgements
"We would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who came along and joined the fun," said Professor Chen, Co-director of NCI. "We are incredibly grateful to the NCI staff and the University of Nottingham student volunteers for their boundless energy and enthusiasm. Finally, a special thanks to our partners—including Lakeside Arts, the UoN Faculties of Engineering and Science, the UoN Residential Team, Nottingham Central Library, and our partner schools—for their continued support. None of this would have been possible without them."
Partner schools involved in this year's celebrations included Alderman White School, Rushcliffe Spencer Academy, Bispham Spencer Academy, Nottingham Chinese School, Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy, The Emmanuel School, and Hampton College.
To view video clips of the various celebration events, visit our Instagram page: www.instagram.com/nottingham_ci/
Ends
Posted on Tuesday 10th March 2026