SZ Culture Square, London museum forge alliance

Shenzhen Culture Square signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Design Museum in London on Tuesday (Beijing Time), becoming the museum's first strategic partner in the Asia-Pacific region. This marks a new chapter in design and cultural exchange between Shenzhen and London.

Xu Yanan (L front), general manager of Shenzhen Culture Square, and Josephine Chanter (R front), deputy director of the Design Museum, pose for a photo with other members after signing the MOU. Photos courtesy of Shenzhen Culture Square

The deal came days after Shenzhen Culture Square signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and the Manufactures nationales — Sèvres & Mobilier national in Paris on March 20 (Beijing Time).

Members of the two parties exchange gifts during the MOU signing ceremony Tuesday. 

At Tuesday's signing ceremony, Wu Jun, deputy secretary-general of the Shenzhen Municipal Government and leader of a Shenzhen delegation that visited London, praised the collaboration as a springtime rendezvous for cultural exchanges between Shenzhen and London.

"Design should always serve a better life, address real-world challenges, and generate happiness and value. Looking ahead, through collaborative efforts and the implementation of joint projects, we will forge a brighter future underpinned by a globally-oriented design culture,” she said.

Josephine Chanter, deputy director of the Design Museum, noted that Shenzhen, as both a City of Design and a technology hub, aligns closely with the museum’s mission of “design driving the future.”

She said the cooperation formally defines a common vision shared by the two parties, which is to create opportunities for cooperation, knowledge sharing, and participation for designers, organizations, and audiences in China and the U.K. It will enable both parties to enhance exhibition exchanges, develop joint educational programs, and explore new ways to support the development of creative talent.

Xu Yanan (L), general manager of Shenzhen Culture Square, and deputy director of the Design Museum Josephine Chanter shake hands following the signing of the MOU on Tuesday.

As per the MOU, the inaugural collaborative exhibition, titled “A Century of Chairs,” will integrate London’s curatorial expertise with Shenzhen’s innovative spirit. Meanwhile, the two parties have agreed to jointly develop public education projects in design, promote the modern transformation of traditional Chinese crafts for overseas markets, and build an international design exchange platform to facilitate the cross-regional flow of design resources.

A pioneering global design-culture complex, Shenzhen Culture Square is designed by MAD Architects, founded and led by renowned architect Ma Yansong. Slated to open this October, the complex spans 51,000 square meters and has a total building area of 188,000 square meters. It will serve as a dynamic hub integrating design exhibitions, design education, and public cultural activities. It also aims to foster dialogue that bridges tradition and modernity, as well as local and global perspectives.

Founded in 1989, the Design Museum in London is one of the world’s leading institutions dedicated to contemporary design. It is renowned for its collections of contemporary and modern design, as well as its avant-garde curation, covering diverse fields such as industrial design, architecture, and fashion.

A glimpse inside the Design Museum in London. 

An exterior view of the museum showcases its architectural grandeur.

The Design Museum in London is a world-leading institution dedicated to contemporary design.