Rockbund Art Museum 上海外滩美术馆

Inaugurated in 2010, the Rockbund Art Museum (RAM) is a non-profit arts organization in Shanghai. Situated within an Art Deco building originally built for the Royal Asiatic Society in 1932, this historical architecture has been restored and renovated by the David Chipperfield Architects.

In considering what it means to be a Shanghai-based contemporary art museum in the 21st century, RAM aims to explore the importance of "archipelago thinking": connecting to artistic culture across Asia and beyond to gain richer perspectives on today's challenges, imaginations, practices, and networks within contemporary artistic practices. We wish to build constructive, creative relationships between multiple localities in Asia and different cultures globally to create a hub for working with a broad range of artists, researchers, and scholars.

With a strong reputation for an innovative curatorial approach, RAM experiments with different models of what an art project can be, from research to alternative learning programs, from exhibition-making to unexpected performative formats. We are committed to cultivating a diverse and deep-rooted connection to our audiences, communities, supporters, and different social and cultural organizations.

By supporting bold contemporary art practices, RAM continually reshapes local histories while responding to global challenges in search of unique visions of life.

上海外滩美术馆创立于2010年，是一所上海市注册的非营利性艺术机构。 美术馆位于一栋始建于1932年的装饰艺术风格的历史保护建筑，最初为亚洲文会博物院所用，该建筑已由戴维·奇普菲尔德建筑师事务所进行修复和改造。

在考虑作为一个身处上海的21世纪当代艺术机构的意义时，RAM旨在探索“群岛思维”的重要性：通过与亚洲及其他地区的艺术文化相连接，为当下的艺术挑战、想象、实践和网络提供更为丰富的见解。上海外滩美术馆希望在亚洲多个地区之间乃至全球不同文化之间构建具有建设性的差异，为艺术家、研究人员和学者提供自由表达的空间，并与观众一同深入感受幽微且浓烈的体验。

上海外滩美术馆凭借独具一格的策展方法而享有盛誉，竭尽所能、勇于尝试实现艺术项目的不同可能模式：从研究到替代学习项目，从展览到出乎意料的泛表演性实践。我们致力于培养与我们的观众、多样社群、支持者以及不同的社会和文化组织之间多元且深入的联系。通过支持大胆的当代艺术实践，不断重塑本地历史，应对全球挑战，寻求多重且独特的生活愿景。

The building that houses the Rockbund Art Museum was originally the Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) building. Home to one of the first modern museums in China, the building was once the most influential venue for academic exchange and public education in the Far East.

The Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) was the home to one of the first modern museums in China; it was completed in 1932 by the architect George L. Wilson with its exquisite Art Deco spirit combining Western and Chinese elements. In 2007, world-renowned architect David Chipperfield was commissioned to renovate the museum interior with simplicity, grace, and functionality, infusing the historical architecture with the spirit and character of modern and contemporary art.

In 1874, under the support of the Shanghai Municipal Council (SMC), the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society raised money from the local community and built its first permanent venue on 20 Upper Yuen Ming Yuen Road (currently the Huqiu Road), a 2-floor building that had contained a library, a museum, and a lecture hall. The Museum was also known as the “Shanghai Museum”, with collecting natural specimens and cultural artifacts pertaining to China as its main tasks. In 1886, in recognition of the museum’s contribution to the development of local culture, the SMC decided to change the name of the street to “Museum Road”.

上海外滩美术馆所在的亚洲文会大楼，位于上海市黄浦区虎丘路20号，从19世纪中期以来即是上海的公共文化中心和学术交流中心。

亚洲文会大楼（RAS）曾是上海博物院的所在地，它是中国最早成立的博物馆之一。建筑竣工于1932年，由英国建筑师George Wilson设计，融合了中西文化的元素，具有典雅而精致的装饰艺术风格。2007年，著名英籍建筑设计师戴维·奇普菲尔德受邀担纲美术馆的建筑改造，以简洁优雅而功能完善的内部空间为这一历史建筑注入现代艺术空间的精神与气质。

1874年，在租界政府的支持下，英国皇家亚洲文会北中国支会募集社会资金，在上圆明园路（今虎丘路）20号建成永久性会址，内设图书馆、博物院和演讲厅。其中，博物院也称为“上海博物院”，是中国最早成立的博物馆之一，也曾经是远东地区中国标本和文物收藏最富、影响最大、功能最全的社会教育和文化交流机构。