The economic capital of the Asian Giant wants to compete with New York and Paris in the cultural scene. If the Metropolitan Museum and the Mussee d'Orsay are reference points in their respective cities, Shanghai aspires to do the same with the future China Art Palace. This new center will be accompanied by the creation of three other museums: the China Contemporary Art Museum, Shanghai Songze Historical Relics Museum and the National Treasures Center. 

The idea is to turn the city into an "international cultural metropolis", said Zong Ming, deputy head of the Publicity Department of Shanghai's Party committee. Thus, the Government has proposed to place Shanghai at the same height than the capitals of contemporary art. No one has specified yet what type of works will be exhibited, but it is more than likely that names like Ai Weiwei will be forgotten.

Ming said the ambitious project will start next year and will be finished in 2015. It is part of a plan to build 16 new museums and art galleries. She also explained they will try to use the previous facilities of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai. The emblematic China Pavilion designed by He Jingtang will host the new China Art Palace, and the Urban Future Pavilion will become China Contemporary Art Museum. 

The third museum will be sited in the Qingpu suburban District and it will be dedicated to Songz herietage, the primitive culture (3900 BC - 3200 BC), whose inhabitants were had already  cultivating rice. The museum quartet will also include another center of enormous proportions that will show national treasures. This is where the collections from the Shanghai Peking Opera House and the Duoyunxuan Art Center willbe relocated.

2013 will be the year these four cultural centers are estimated to open their doors. In a move designed to rival with the major references of contemporary art. We will have to wait two years to find out whether the museums' directors will bet on freedom of speech like their European and American counterparts. Sol G. Moreno

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