DURHAM, N.H. - The University of New Hampshire will celebrate the opening of the state's only Confucius Institute Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. in the Strafford Room of the Memorial Union Building. The opening celebration which is free and open to the public, will welcome Chinese dignitaries and Chengdu University officials to campus with a presentation of Chinese arts and culture. The nonprofit educational institution, which will sponsor classes in Chinese language and culture, will be housed at UNH.

Additional celebratory events include an art exhibit at UNH's Museum of Art in the Paul Creative Arts Center. Featuring 80 works of Chinese art from the Sichuan province the exhibit runs through Oct. 31 with special Friday hours. A gallery reception will be held Tuesday, Oct. 26, from 5-7 p.m. and on Wednesday, Oct. 27, from noon-1 p.m. there will be a gallery talk with Suihai Liu, dean of Chengdu University's Fine Arts Academy. All events are free and open to the public. For hours visit www.unh.edu/moa and click on Events.

In addition to providing UNH students with access to a complete curriculum in Chinese with the addition of two visiting scholars from China, the institute will work with K-12 schools throughout the state and as well as with the other schools in the university system to help them establish Chinese language programs. Through distance learning Chinese language classes may also be offered in the North Country and other interested schools.

Chinese language, culture and business courses will be developed and taught for any individual interested in studying in China and the institute will serve as a clearinghouse for cultural exchange opportunities.
The spicy flavors of Sichuan will be featured in a night of song, dance and theater with professional Chinese performance artists at the Music Hall in Portsmouth Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20, $18 for UNH students, seniors and children. To order tickets: http://www.themusichall.org/calendar/Event_Detail.asp?EventID=1091

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling more than 12,200 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students.

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