China Modern Art Archive
Address:
Peking University & 798 Art area
Beijing, China
Website
CMAA also publishes the Annual of Contemporary Art of China, an authoritative record of art events, artists, and critical discourse, and operates the Archives of Contemporary Art in China (ACAC), a public platform offering open access to archival resources and supporting research, exhibitions, and public engagement.
Peking University & 798 Art area
Beijing, China
Website
About the archive
The China Modern Art Archive (CMAA) at Peking University is a non‑profit academic archive dedicated to documenting, preserving, and researching the development of Chinese modern and contemporary art. The archive focuses on materials from the late 1980s to the present,tracing the evolution of Chinese contemporary art. Its mission is to build a sustainable and resilient archival system that supports long‑term research, public access, and the responsible stewardship of artistic materials.CMAA also publishes the Annual of Contemporary Art of China, an authoritative record of art events, artists, and critical discourse, and operates the Archives of Contemporary Art in China (ACAC), a public platform offering open access to archival resources and supporting research, exhibitions, and public engagement.
Focus & Research
CMAA centers on the documentation, preservation, and open academic study of Chinese modern and contemporary art. The archive prioritizes primary sources, such as artworks, documents, exhibition histories, and artist materials, that illuminate the cultural, political, and social contexts of artistic production in China from the late 1970s onward. Key areas of inquiry include:- Preservation, digitization, and sustainable development of contemporary art archives
- History and critical studies of Chinese contemporary art
- Construction of open and public art archive systems
- Role of archives in artistic creation and cultural memory
- Global exchanges and cooperation between international art archives
Residency details
Available period for archive visits: September 2026 to January 2027Duration on location: 2 to 3 weeks
What the archive offers:
Access to archival materials, databases and catalogues, digital resources, technical or research support; curatorial guidance and creative input; introductions to the collection and its contexts; and other forms of assistance depending on the project needs.Workspace:
Shared workspaceAccessibility
Quiet and low‑sensory spaces suitable for neurodiverse researchers.Due to the nature of the archival materials (primarily in Chinese), proficiency in Chinese is strongly recommended for full access.
