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A new arts district is being planned for the Gaobeidian community in Beijing’s Chaoyang District. The first phase of the project will include the construction of more than 200 units of 500 square metres each finished by 2008. The entire project is not expected to be completed until 2010.

Sponsored by luxury furniture brand Boloni Home Décor, and co-planned by Thinking Hands Company, Limited, the curator of the Dangdai International Art Festival (the former Dashanzi International Art Festival), the 450,000-square-metre project’s organisers will seek to merge art, living quarters, design, creation, and leisure in one, six-block urban area, including an Industrial Renewal Art District; a Flagship Store Street, featuring top international brand stores; the New Scene of Qingming Shanghe Street, a fusion of Chinese traditional culture; Peach Blossom Island, a recreational area with bars and clubs; Creative Land, which will houses an open air venue for avant-garde art; and a Business District with a high class hotel and conference centre.

Proposals from architects, artists, designers, and creative professionals are welcomed, regardless of nationality, to bid on the architectural design of the project; the design competition began on February 9 and will end on March 30. The final result will be announced on April 3. The jury for the competition includes architect Zhu Pei, Yi Jiezhong and Neville Mars, artist Huang Rui, media publisher Hong Huang, and Gaobeidian Art District founder Cai Ming. Cash awards for the design competition total 250,000 yuan (US$31,250), with one gold winner, 150, 000 yuan (US$18,750); one silver medal winner, 50,000 yuan (US$6,250); and five bronze medal winners, 10,000 yuan (US$1,250) per person.

Participation is easy. Visit www.artgbd.com to download an application form. E-mail the application form and an electronic attachment of the design to artgbd@gmail.com. Send the application and the paper version of the design to: 4 Jiuxianqiao Road, 798 Dashanzi Art District. PO Box 8503, Thinking Hands, Beijing, China, 100015. More detailed information can be found at: www.artgbd.com.