The Graduate School of Fine Arts and the Department of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania will sponsor an international conference on "The Beaux Arts, Paul Phillipe Cret, and Twentieth Century Architecture in China," on April 11-13, 2003. The conference will focus on the development of modern architecture and architectural education in China from the late nineteenth century to 1975.

The conference aims to open discussion on the development of architecture in modern China, with presentations by scholars and architects from around the world. Topics will include the "travelling" of Beaux Arts principles from France, via America (and later Russia) to twentieth century China; the tremendous influence of Cret-trained and Beaux Arts influenced Chinese architects on the form of twentieth century Chinese building and urban design; the powerful influence of the Beaux Arts on Chinese architectural education; the "social life" of the Beaux Arts in China and America; Beaux Arts architecture and locations; and Beaux Arts models and the architecture of the Peoples Republic. For further information, please contact: