Gallery Tours & Workshops
Discover China Through Art
Discover China Through Art (DCTA) is China Institute Gallery’s innovative art education program. Created in 1992, DCTA introduces schools and the general public to Chinese art and culture through interactive docent-led Gallery Tours accompanied by informative video presentations and hands-on art workshops. Our online services include Virtual Tours and Online Workshops (ArtFun).
EXPLORE
Detail, Plum Blossoms In the Moonlight Chen Lu (dates unknown)
Hanging scroll; ink on paper
Tianjin Museum
DCTA Tour/ Workshop 2023 - 2024
September 15, 2023 – January 5, 2024
Discover China Through Art (DCTA), China Institute Gallery’s innovative art education program for groups, will introduce participants to our special showcase – Zoom into Painting: Details from the Exhibition Flowers on a River. It has been created to meet the high demand for field trips and workshops among the students and teachers in New York City and the tristate area. Each group visit consists of a three-part program featuring a virtual video, a docent-led gallery tour, and a hands-on art workshop, all of which can be adapted for different age groups and interests.
This specially curated showcase will present a virtual viewing video of our previous original exhibition Flowers on a River: The Art of Chinese Flower-and-Bird Painting, 1368-1911 in full scope and with displayed enlarged details of paintings in panels, along with more elaborate introductions of selected works by 19 painters.
Focused on ink plum painting, we have chosen an artwork of Plum Blossoms In the Moonlight, by a 15th century painter Chen Lu, as our workshop sample. The ink plum painting is a much-admired painting form for over thousand years since ancient China, presenting the literati’s favorite subject, as a symbol for individualism and endurance. By zooming into the details of the brushwork, participants will learn and apply fundamental ink and brush techniques to create a unique ink drawing of plum blossoms after practice.
| Schedule: | Available for booking Monday through Friday 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM & 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Please reserve a tour two weeks in advance of the requested date |
| Fee: | $150 per group/ NYC Public school & Seniors $220 per group/ Tours after 4:00 pm & Weekends $220 per group/ Private and Non-NYC Schools $220 per group/ College and University Students, Adults All up to 30 participants per group |
| Contact: | Yue Ma, Director, Art Education Program (DCTA) at (212) 744-8181, ext.147 or by email yma@chinainstitute.org |
Zoom into the Painting: Details from the Flowers on a River Exhibition is made possible by the generous support of the sponsors of the Flowers on a River original exhibition, led by the Henry Luce Foundation, the Center for Language Education and Cooperation, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and Liu Dan and Wang Huiyun, among others.
Created by Yue Ma
DCTA Peony Flower Drawing Workshop
August 1 — 31, 2023
Discover China Through Art (DCTA), China Institute Gallery’s innovative art education program for groups of all ages. This beloved program that mainly draws on each of China Institute Gallery’s exhibition to provide a lively experience for learning Chinese art and culture.
Flower-and-bird painting is one of three major genres of Chinese painting, alongside landscape and figure painting. The exhibition Flowers on a River: The Art of Chinese Flower-and-Bird Painting, 1368-1911 showed at the China Institute Gallery from March 23 – June 25, 2023 provided a rare opportunity to appreciate over 100 Chinese masterworks of flower-and-bird painting by 59 artists through 500 years of Ming and Qing dynasties.
Peony, the beautiful flower once regarded as the national flower of China, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. We chose a painting from the exhibition, Broken-Branch Flowers by a 17th century painter Zhang Sheng, as our workshop sample. Participants will learn and apply fundamental ink and brush techniques to create a unique artwork after practice.
| Schedule: | Available for booking Please reserve a workshop one week in advance of the requested date |
| Fee: | $150 per group/ NYC Public school & Seniors $220 per group/ Tours after 4:00 pm & Weekends $220 per group/ Private and Non-NYC Schools $220 per group/ College and University Students, Adults All up to 30 participants per group |
| Contact: | Yue Ma, Director, Art Education Program (DCTA) at (212) 744-8181, ext.147 or by email yma@chinainstitute.org |
DCTA Flower Painting Workshop
Discover China Through Art (DCTA), China Institute Gallery’s innovative art education program for groups, will introduce participants to our new exhibition: Flowers on a River: The Art of Chinese Flower-And-Bird Painting, 1368-1911, Masterworks from Tianjin Museum and Changzhou Museum. Each group visit consists of a three-part program featuring an introductory video presentation, a docent-led gallery tour, and a hands-on flower painting workshop, all of which can be adapted for different age groups and interests.
Flower-and-bird painting is one of three major genres of Chinese painting, alongside landscape and figure painting. This exhibition provides a rare opportunity to appreciate over 100 Chinese masterworks of flower-and-bird painting by 59 artists through 500 years of Ming and Qing dynasties.
| Schedule: | Available for booking weekday Free for the first 50 NYC Public Schools |
| Fee: | $150 per group/ NYC Public school & Seniors $220 per group/ Tours after 4:00 pm & Weekends $220 per group/ Private and Non-NYC Schools $220 per group/ College and University Students, Adults All up to 30 participants per group |
| Contact: | Yue Ma, Director, Art Education Program (DCTA) at (212) 744-8181, ext.147 or by email yma@chinainstitute.org |
Leadership gifts for Flowers on a River have been provided by the following: Henry Luce Foundation; Center for Language Education and Cooperation; LIU Dan and WANG Huiyun; and an anonymous donor. Additional support has been provided by: CHEN Chunyang; E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation; Winnie C. and Michael Feng; The Shau-Wai and Marie Lam Family Foundation; Dame Jillian and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler Foundation for the Arts, Sciences and Humanities; James P. Geiss and Margaret Y. Hsu Foundation; Joseph Tse Foundation; Angela H. King; and Shining Sung. Flowers on a River is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Flowers on a River is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
DCTA Chinese New Year Program 1/9 – 3/3/2023
Chinese New Year, often called the Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It begins on the first day of the first month in the Chinese Lunar calendar and goes to the 15th day. In 2023, the first day of Chinese New Year will be on Sunday, January 22, which is the Year of the Rabbit.
To celebrate this important yearly event, our DCTA Chinese New Year Program will include a short video of the Spring Festival and a calligraphy workshop. After learning a few basic Chinese characters such as “Spring” and “Good Fortune”, participants will learn basic calligraphy brushstrokes to turn the characters into festive and beautiful New Year decorations on red paper!
| Schedule: | Available for booking weekday Mornings 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM & Afternoons 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM |
| Fee: | $150 per group. Up to 30 participants per group |
| Contact: | Yue Ma, Director, Art Education Program (DCTA) at (212) 744-8181, ext. 147 or by email yma@chinainstitute.org |
DCTA Tour/ Workshop Fall 2022
Discover China Through Art (DCTA), China Institute Gallery’s innovative art education program for groups, will introduce participants to our special showcase: Mountains and Painting: An Educational Journey Through Landscape Art. It features thirteen artists through twenty-two works of art to reveal the importance of mountain culture in Chinese history and art. Each group visit consists of a three-part program featuring an introductory video presentation, a docent-led gallery tour, and a hands-on art workshop, all of which can be adapted for different age groups and interests.
In Chinese legends, mountains are pillars that hold up the sky. By examining the impact of mountains on Chinese culture and its traditional aesthetic, this showcase reveals the formats, compositions, techniques, subjects, and aesthetics of Chinese painting. Participants will find a strong connection between landscape photography and painting. Our hands-on Chinese landscape painting workshop provides rare opportunities to learn and apply fundamental ink and brush techniques.
This special showcase was created in response to requests from New York City educators—who are once again teaching their students in person—for the resumption of China Institute Gallery’s onsite field trip program (DCTA).
| Schedule: | Monday through Friday: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM & 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM (Masks are strongly recommended for all staff and visitors) |
| Fee: | Weekdays: $150 per group (up to 30 participants per group) Evenings (after 4:00 pm) & Weekends: $180 per group |
| Contact: | Yue Ma, Director, Art Education Program (DCTA) at (212) 744-8181, ext. 147 or by email yma@chinainstitute.org |
Mountains and Painting is made possible by the generous support of 
and an anonymous donor.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. 
The DCTA Tour/ Workshop @ Your School
Discover China Through Art (DCTA), China Institute Gallery’s innovative art education program for all age groups, will introduce participants to our gallery talk and hands-on art workshop. Now our experienced docent comes to your school! We provide an interactive art workshop based on our most recent exhibition, Art of the Mountain: Through the Chinese Photographer’s Lens. By examining the impact of mountains on Chinese culture and aesthetics, students will gain a better understanding of China through Chinese geography, history, culture and the national psyche. This program includes an exhibition presentation and landscape painting workshop.
| Time: | 45 minutes / 60 minutes |
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The DCTA Virtual Tours
China Institute Gallery is one of the pioneers in bringing Chinese art to the American public, presenting Chinese art exclusively on a regular basis since 1966. Renowned for its first-class innovative thematic exhibitions, scholarly catalogues, and related art education programs, it has become a go-to resource for learning Chinese art and culture.
Discover China Through Art (DCTA) is a beloved art program that mainly draws on each of China Institute Gallery’s exhibitions to provide a lively experience for learning Chinese art and civilization. In the current environment, The DCTA Virtual Tours were specially created to provide informative and interactive gallery talks and workshops for K -12 and college students as well as adults and seniors through Google Meet or Zoom.
1. Art of the Mountain: Through the Chinese Photographer’s Lens.
There are two options for this virtual workshop:
Gallery Talk (40 minutes)- An introduction to China Institute Gallery
- An interactive gallery talk on highlights from the exhibition
- Q & A session
- An introduction to China Institute Gallery
- An interactive gallery talk on highlights from the exhibition
- Q & A session
- A virtual landscape painting workshop demonstration along with a PPT sent to the teacher/group organizer
| Schedule: | Available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM One class/group per reservation |
| Fee: | Schools can enjoy preferential rates. For details, please contact Yue Ma, Director, Art Education Program (DCTA) at yma@chinainstitute.org |
2. Plum Blossom Painting
| Materials needed: | Watercolor, colored pencils or crayons |
| Tour length: | 45 minutes |
| Schedule: | Available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
| One class/group per reservation | |
| Fee: | Schools can enjoy preferential rates |
| For details, please contact Yue Ma, Director, Art Education Program (DCTA) at yma@chinainstitute.org |
3. DCTA Chinese New Year Virtual Program
Chinese New Year, often called the Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It begins on the first day of the first month in the Chinese Lunar calendar and goes to the 15th day. In 2022, the first day of the Chinese New Year was on Tuesday, February 1, which is the Year of the Tiger.
To celebrate this important yearly event, our DCTA Chinese New Year Virtual Program will include an interactive talk and a short video of the Spring Festival story, and a fun calligraphy/ bamboo painting workshop for participants to choose from.
| Schedule: | Available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM One class/group per reservation |
| Fee: | Schools can enjoy preferential rates For details, please contact Yue Ma, Director, Art Education Program (DCTA) at yma@chinainstitute.org |
ArtFun Online Workshops
ArtFun Online Workshops are exciting art-making resources designed for all age groups to be used as an art class supplement or by families. Featuring different subjects, they introduce participants to Chinese culture and contain easy and fun guides that invite you to apply your skills to artistic projects. Click here for more videos.