ICCF helped to make the exhibition happen The Imperial Palace of Beijing: historical footage, artists and artisans from the Forbidden City, a project co-organised with theNational Academy of the Lincei and to Palace Museum in Beijing.
The exhibition, which will be open to the public from 4 to 18 May 2026, proposes the presentation of artefacts created using traditional ancient Chinese techniques, the result of research, study, and experimentation on masterpieces belonging to China's tangible and intangible cultural heritage preserved at the The Palace Museum (Forbidden City, Beijing), by statute, not to be exhibited outside the Museum.
The works on display are by master artisans active from the 1970s onwards, heirs
and continuators of the traditional imperial manufacturing techniques.
The exhibition is supported by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China and by The Palace Museum – Imperial Palace Museum of Beijing, under the patronage ofNational Academy of the Lincei and theItalian Cultural Institute of Beijing.
The exhibition is organised to mark the celebrations for the Centenary of the founding of the Palace Museum of the Forbidden City (1925-2025) and fits within the framework of celebrations for the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and Chinacontributing to strengthening cultural dialogue between the two countries and the increasingly close relations between the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei and the highest scientific and cultural institutions of the People's Republic of China.
The Palace Museum, Beijing is based in Forbidden Cityofficially established in 1925. It houses over 1.97 million exhibits belonging to Chinese imperial collections through different historical eras, and at the same time represents a fundamental custodian and continuator of courtly artisanal traditions.
In recent years, under the guidance of the principle of "endless vitalitythe Palace Museum has intensified its commitment not only to international dissemination of the charm of traditional Chinese craftsmanship, but also in engaging younger generations in the processes of reinterpreting and creatively transmitting traditional culture. In this way, the institution is now one of the main windows through which the world can approach Chinese civilisation and the history of the Chinese people.
The cultural and creative products of the Palace Museum have always been inspired by the fundamental principle of "breathing new life into cultural relics". In promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of traditional Chinese culture, they also pay particular attention to the preservation and enhancement of court arts and craftsmanship.
The works on display thus bear witness to the extraordinary cultural richness of traditional Chinese craftsmanship, offering an in-depth look at the continuity of artistic practices through time.
DATA SHEET
Exhibition Title
The Imperial Palace of Beijing: historical footage, artists and artisans from the Forbidden City
Headquarters
Auditorium Wing of Villa Farnesina
Opening
4 May 2026, 6:00 PM (entry permitted until 7:00 PM)
Give to the public
4 – 18 May 2026 (Monday to Saturday 9 am-2 pm; last entry 1 pm)
Sunday 10 May 9am-5pm; last entry 4pm
Organised by
The Palace Museum
National Academy of the Lincei
In collaboration with
The Palace Museum Cultural Development Co., Ltd.
Fondazione Italia Cina ETS
New Artemarea Association ETS
With the support of
Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, The Palace Museum
Under the patronage of
Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Italian Cultural Institute of Beijing
