The dance drama Dream of the Red Chamber is staged at the Jiangsu Grand Theatre. [Photo/jsenews.com]

The 2025 High Art into Campus program kicked off on Sept 29 with a captivating performance of the dance drama Dream of the Red Chamber at the Jiangsu Grand Theatre. This year's program will bring a total of 300 events to schools across Jiangsu province, including 200 stage performances and 100 film screenings.

Launched in 2011, the High Art into Campus initiative offers free, high-quality performances to students from primary schools to universities across Jiangsu. Over the years, the provincial government has invested a total of 157 million yuan ($22.04 million) to support the events, helping young people develop artistic appreciation and aesthetic literacy.

Since 2018, the province has also organized opera tours for university audiences, which this year have been integrated into the broader High Art program to further enhance the influence of traditional culture.

This year, the program has been upgraded in every aspect — from organization to content and delivery — to better engage students.

A highlight of this year's edition is the introduction of a new film category. In addition to screenings, filmmakers and industry experts will host discussions and guided sessions to help students better appreciate cinematic art. Some events will also feature performances by award-winning student art troupes from universities, turning students from passive viewers into active participants.

Both the stage and film programs will be made available for online reservation to universities and educational authorities in all 13 prefecture-level cities across the province, ensuring that as many students as possible are able to experience the beauty of art on campus.