ISSA Hebei\ Youth Sculpture Symposium on University Campus

The "Discovery Journey International Stone Carving Symposium" of Hebei Academy of Fine Arts (HAFA), a pioneering teaching reform project rooted in stone carving education, has evolved from a localized initiative into a globally recognized symposium brand over seven years of continuous innovation. In 2024, through collaboration with the International Sculpture Symposium Alliance (ISSA), the project expanded its international reach by inviting renowned New Zealand sculptor Stephen Woodward as an external expert in 2025. Woodward imparted contemporary teaching methodologies and oversaw the upgrade of campus workshops and equipment, establishing a cross-cultural platform for students under 25 to engage in cutting-edge stone carving practices.

Under the theme of "Internationalization," this year’s 30-day symposium immersed 50 third-year undergraduate sculpture students in intensive workshops that seamlessly integrated theoretical knowledge with professional practice. Facilitated by Woodward and HAFA’s English interpreter Mr. Chen, the program emphasized hands-on learning, safety training, and collaborative creation, embodying HAFA’s "student-centered, practice-oriented" educational philosophy. The initiative not only enhanced students’ technical proficiency but also broadened their global perspectives, setting a precedent for art education reform in Chinese higher institutions.

Materials Providers: ISSA China Member Zhao Yong

Chief Editor: Liu Qin

English Version Editor: Sun Ya’nan

Legal Advisor: Tao Ranting