The International Conference on One Belt One Road Arts and Culture 2025 (ICOAC25) is organized by the Department of Cultural and Creative Arts of The Education University of Hong Kong supported by the Belt and Road Summit of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. The conference will take place from September 13th to 14th, 2025, at the Hong Kong Palace Museum. The conference aims to unite leading academics, researchers, artists, and professionals to exchange and share their experiences and research projects related to the cultural contexts of the countries involved in OBOR

This conference aims to foster dialogue among artists, researchers, and educators, promoting cultural exchange and preservation in One Belt One Road (OBOR) countries. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on workshops, performance/practice-based presentations, and discussions to deepen understanding of the cultural aspects of art and music in various OBOR countries. The committee welcomes papers, workshops, and performance/practice-based presentations from a wide variety of topics from the potential topics listed below:

Submission Formats

ICOAC25 accepts three submission formats:

1. Paper Presentations

Paper Presentations: Please submit an abstract in English of no more than 400 words with the paper title that should clearly state the (1) theoretical/pedagogical background, (2) purpose/objective of the work/research, (3) the key problems/questions addressed, (4) the method, (5) the findings/outcomes, and (6) the conclusions and implications.  References, tables, and figures should be added to the end of the document and are not included in the word count. No more than a total of two (2) tables and/or figures may be included. Submitted abstracts will be evaluated by the Review Panel.

Every accepted abstract will receive an invitation to submit a full paper for the consideration to be published as the conference proceeding.

2. Workshops

Workshops: The workshops are designed to spark interactive learning through music and/or art, combining brief presentations, collaborative discussions, and immersive activities. Each workshop will connect artistic practice with the rich cultural landscapes of the OBOR initiative, offering participants an opportunity to experience and reflect on cultural exchange through creative expression.

We invite workshop proposals that are interactive, engaging, and culturally grounded. Each abstract (max. 400 words) should include (1) the title, (2) the background of the activity, (3) the purpose or objectives (what participants will explore or learn), (4) the method (a brief overview of the procedures, including hands-on components), and (5) the cultural content associated with OBOR.

3. Performance/Practice-based Presentations

Performance and Practice-Based Presentations: We welcome performance and practice-based presentations that bring the cultural narratives of the OBOR regions to life through music and/or art. Presentations should clearly reflect connections to the cultural themes of OBOR, allowing audiences to experience artistic expression as a form of cultural dialogue, heritage sharing, or cross-border collaboration.

The Performance/Practice-based Presentations are expected to showcase practice-based activities (e.g. traditional ensemble, a contemporary reinterpretation, or a visual art presentation). Each abstract (max. 400 words) should include (1) the title, (2) the background of the presentation, (3) the purpose or objectives (what the presentation aims to explore or communicate), (4) content structure (what the performance/practice is about), and (5) the cultural content related to OBOR.

List of Topics

• Cultural Heritage, Identity, and Tranational  Exchange
• Arts, Education, and Interdisciplinary Dialogue
• Technology and Future Cultural Practice
• Arts,  Policies and  Cultural Diplomacy

Committees

Program Committee

• Prof. LEE, Chi Kin John (Consultant)
• Prof. HJORT, Anne Mette (Consultant)
• Prof. ERNI, John Nguyet (Consultant)
• Dr. LEUNG, Chi Hin (Chairperson)
• Dr. ZHANG, LexuanVice (Chairperson)
• Dr. YANG, Yang (Committee)
• Dr. LI, King Yue Philbert (Committee)
• Dr. PANG, Wing Yan Jasman (Committee)

Contact

All questions about submissions should be emailed to icoac25@eduhk.hk