China Arts and Entertainment Group Ltd. (CAEG) and its subsidiary, China Arts and Entertainment Theatre Chain Development Co Ltd (CAEG Theatre Chain), signed a cooperation agreement with Jinan Chengfa Ancient City Urban Renewal Co Ltd in Beijing to jointly operate Jinan Theater. The initiative aims to energize Jinan's cultural and artistic scene through innovation and contribute to the city's high-quality cultural industry development. Representatives from both sides, along with cultural sector guests, attended the signing ceremony.

This partnership marks a strategic expansion of CAEG Theatre Chain's directly operated theater network into East China and serves as a pilot for its "purely market-oriented commercial theater" model. It represents a shift from traditional theater chain management to a broader role as a "cultural ecosystem operator".

"Jinan Theater Model" — A New Operational Approach

Located at No. 1 Nanmen Street in Lixia district, Jinan Theater sits on the southeast corner of Quancheng Square. The venue spans 8,700 square meters and includes an 870-seat medium-sized auditorium and a black box performance space.

The cooperation leverages CAEG Theatre Chain's national resources and Jinan Urban Development Group's local advantages to create Shandong's first comprehensive cultural landmark integrating art performance, cultural heritage, and cultural-tourism fusion. With a vision to serve Jinan and radiate influence across East China, the theater will introduce high-end productions, develop local cultural IP, and integrate technology into stage art — creating an "internationally minded, Shandong-flavored" cultural hub.

Guo Liqun, Deputy Party Secretary and General Manager of CAEG, stated that the "Jinan Theater Model" is an innovative response to current economic and market conditions, piloting a purely market-driven commercial theater in prime urban locations of first-tier, new first-tier, and provincial capital cities. This approach is designed to energize theaters through market mechanisms and provide a valuable reference for future expansion.

CAEG operates across four major business segments — international performance, art exhibitions, cultural tourism, and theater chain management — staging over 5,000 global performances, exhibitions, and large-scale events each year. In its 70-year history, it has played a key role in promoting China's cultural exchange and storytelling internationally. CAEG Theatre Chain, with its nationwide theater network, full-cycle production, and management capabilities, will further strengthen its presence through this partnership.

Commercial Empowerment to Build a Cultural Powerhouse

The Jinan Theater agreement signals the start of market-oriented operations that blend culture with urban development. The venue will focus on enriching citizens' cultural lives, integrating diverse and premium performances, cultural education, innovative spatial experiences, economic synergy, and heritage preservation.

As a new cultural landmark in downtown Jinan, the theater will explore cultural technology integration, diverse content creation, a thriving performing arts ecosystem, and cultural-tourism synergy. These efforts aim to complement existing venues, foster differentiated development, and build a robust urban stage arts supply system — moving Jinan from a "city rich in cultural resources" to a "city strong in cultural influence."

Wu Qiang, General Manager of Jinan Chengfa Ancient City Urban Renewal Co Ltd, expressed hopes that CAEG's international vision and operational expertise will turn the venue into a showcase for Jinan's cultural appeal.

Through Jinan Theater's operations, CAEG Theatre Chain plans to introduce top-tier performances to fill the city's high-end performing arts gap, standardize theater operations, cultivate a local performance industry chain, and develop signature cultural products. It will also deepen collaboration in cultural empowerment for urban renewal projects, cultural-tourism integration, and cultural industry park development.

The theater will officially open in late September with a high-quality production by a top-level central arts troupe, followed by a diverse program of performances. The project is a key step in Jinan's "Cultural Powerhouse" strategy and an important move in CAEG's East China theater network layout, complementing its Greater Bay Area venues. CAEG Theatre Chain will continue to expand high-quality performing arts markets and contribute to urban cultural development.