A century ago, it took young Chinese artists around 50 days to sail from Shanghai to France to pursue their dreams of art. Many of them later became esteemed figures of the 20th-century Chinese art, such as Lin Fengmian and Xu Beihong.

Today, young people have access to quality Chinese and French education without having to travel abroad, but by attending schools such as the Institute of Management in Arts and Design, of the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

The institute located in Shanghai relies on cooperation between Chinese and French education resources in arts, design and management. It received its first students this month who dream to carve a niche in the booming art scene and cultural creativity in the country.