On 23 May 2023, the Open University of China (OUC) commenced a series of art master aesthetic education activities throughout its entire system. One of the key highlights was the launch of a large-scale aesthetic education programme titled "Art Master Lectures," which was made available on all OUC learning terminals and external platforms.

At 9 A.M on 23 May, Wu Yueshi, director of the Art Committee of the Painting Institute of the Chinese National Academy of Arts and researcher of the China National Academy of Painting, delivered the inaugural lecture titled "The Most Beautiful Free Sketch."

The "Art Master Lectures" initiative serves as a concrete measure for the Open University of China (OUC) to fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and plays a significant role in shaping students' core qualities. Through the organisation of online courses, the collection of learning stories and experiences, the selection of exceptional aesthetic study centres, and the implementation of online and offline exhibition and exchange activities, the cultural and artistic competence of OUC students is comprehensively enhanced.

The OUC School of Art has invited five renowned Chinese painters, including Wu Yueshi, Guo Shifu, Chen Keyong, He Jialin, and Fan Cunang, along with five celebrated calligraphers, namely Liu Hongbiao, Zhang Xuguang, Zhang Zhihe, Zhu Pei'er, and Zhang Weizhong, to meticulously design 10 high-quality online courses. These courses encompass various topics such as flower and bird painting, landscape painting, and the five different script styles known as "seal," "official," "cursive," "running," and "regular." Under the theme of "one piece of calligraphy, one painting work," the courses focus on classic historical masterpieces of painting and calligraphy. The instructors will provide instruction on basic art theories, analyze the artistic styles of the works, and demonstrate replica-making techniques. This approach aims to foster learners' interest in artistic pursuits and guide them into the realm of painting and calligraphy.

The course is divided into two phases: the promotion course and the premium course. The promotion courses will be live-streamed 10 times from 23rd May to 22nd June, with new courses broadcasted every Tuesday and Thursday. The premium courses, comprising 10 subjects, will be launched successively in the second half of the year. Students interested in each subject will have the opportunity to apply online nationwide and be selected to join an online learning group, where they will receive professional guidance from renowned teachers. Upon completion of the course, students will be awarded a certificate of completion from the OUC, which will be stored in the OUC Credit Bank for Vocational Education and can be converted into academic credits. The OUC will also organise activities such as collecting learning stories and selecting outstanding Aesthetic Study Centers to promote aesthetic education across the system.

Now the“Art Master Lectures” programme is open to the public, please visit the following website for further information: https://lndx.edu.cn/artLiveClass .