The Shanghai Cultural Development Foundation ( zh, c=上海文化发展基金会, p=Shànghǎi Wénhuà Fāzhǎn Jījīn Huì) is a
non-profit organization
A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
established in November 1986 by the
Shanghai Municipal People's Government
The Shanghai Municipal People's Government is the local administrative agency of Shanghai. It is officially elected by the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress and is formally responsible to the SMPC and its Standing Committee. The municipal gove ...
. It manages public and private donations to finance cultural and artistic projects across
Shanghai
Shanghai, Shanghainese: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the ...
.
History
Founding (1986–1990)
The foundation was created by the city’s Propaganda and Finance bureaus to review grant applications and distribute cultural funding.
Expansion (1991–2017)
During the 1990s and 2000s SCDF broadened its grants to theatre, film, television, animation and digital media. Updated guidelines released in 2024 placed new emphasis on intangible cultural heritage and interdisciplinary projects.
Changqing Cultural Fund (2018)
In 2018 the Changqing Cultural Special Fund (长青文化专项基金) was established with philanthropist Liu Bing to support traditional arts and cultural exchange. It has since sponsored more than sixty exhibitions and events.
Recent developments (2018–present)
SCDF digitised its application portal, introduced thematic grant lines and, in 2025, backed the television drama ''
A Better Life'' (蛮好的人生).
Funding
Revenue sources include:
* Annual municipal allocations
* Corporate and individual donations (tax‑deductible under Chinese charity law)
* Investment income from an endowment fund
In 2021 SCDF financed 334 projects and supported 31 international events, achieving a 93 % completion rate.
Functions
SCDF:
* Awards grants in literature, theatre, film, animation, digital media and cultural heritage
* Conducts multi‑stage peer review under Propaganda‑ and Finance‑bureau oversight
* Runs artist training schemes and a youth scriptwriting contest
* Supports culture‑and‑technology integration projects
* Facilitates international exchange and festival participation
Key programmes
* Art‑Creation Support – Seed money for new works in multiple disciplines
* Talent Development – Workshops, scholarships and residencies
* Youth Scriptwriting Contest – Annual competition for writers under 30
* Civilisation Venues – Grants for community cultural centres and exhibitions
* Digital Culture Grants – Funding for VR/AR and online cultural media projects
Partnerships
*
Shanghai Media Group
Radio and Television Station of Shanghai (RTS), a Shanghai-based state media outlet, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Shanghai Media Group (SMG), represent one of the largest state-owned media conglomerates of the People's Republic of China, wi ...
– Co‑produced the documentary ''China’s Culture Journey''.
* SIFF YOUNG – Development support for emerging filmmakers.
*
Xuhui District
Xuhui District is a core urban district of Shanghai. It has a land area of and a population of 1,113,078 as of 2020. Xuhui District has 12 subdistricts and two townships.
The Xuhui District is named after its namesake, the historic area of X ...
– Joint theatre grants under the “演艺大世界” initiative.
*
Asia–Europe Foundation
The Asia–Europe Foundation (ASEF) is an intergovernmental non-profit organization, not-for-profit organization located in Singapore. Founded in 1997, it is the only institution of the Asia-Europe Meeting, Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). Its purpose ...
– Mobility funding for Shanghai artists.
See also
*
Culture in Shanghai
Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, attitudes, and habits of the individuals in these groups ...
*
Shanghai Municipal People's Government
The Shanghai Municipal People's Government is the local administrative agency of Shanghai. It is officially elected by the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress and is formally responsible to the SMPC and its Standing Committee. The municipal gove ...
*
Shanghai International Film Festival
The Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF, , French: ''Festival international du film de Shanghai'') is the largest film festival in Asia and China's longest-running international cinema event. The first festival was established in Octobe ...
*
List of non-profit organizations in China
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shanghai Cultural Development Foundation
Cultural organizations based in China
Foundations based in China
Organizations established in 1986
1986 establishments in China