Visitors appreciate art pieces presented by Pifo New Art Gallery at the 2009 Art Beijing Contemporary Art Fair on April 27, 2009. [Xie Tingting/CRI]

Wang Xinyou's decision to move his Pifo New Art Gallery into the 798 Art District might seem unfathomable at a time when many 798 galleries are shutting down.

Pifo, which devotes itself to discovering new artists, entered Beijing's most famous contemporary art district earlier this year, despite the outflow of many original residents who are seeking lower rent in the wake of the financial crisis.

"Space inside 798 is indeed expensive," Wang said recently. But his mantra, "To Be Together" with Chinese contemporary art, means his gallery must be at the core of the industry, especially during the present chilly winter for contemporary artists.

Wang's tenacity echoes the message that Dong Mengyang, director of the ongoing Art Beijing, a contemporary art fair, wants to pass on to other galleries.

Dong calls Art Beijing a "project of confidence" - that is, helping galleries hit by the bear market regain confidence for the future.

"No matter how the market fluctuates, artists and galleries need to have faith in what they are doing, and always have a conscientious manner in creating art," Dong says.

"I want to tell our galleries that tenacity is important. And if you have difficulties, we can offer help."

Dong's efforts to help galleries include offering lower exhibit fees at this year's Art Beijing fair, which has developed into a major annual event for Chinese contemporary art since its inauguration in 2006.

This January, Dong signed an agreement with the government-run Beijing Cultural Development Foundation to launch the Art Beijing Special Fund. The city government has set aside five million yuan (US$732,385) to support this year's Art Beijing events.

A portion of that money was used to sponsor exhibitors. Based on criteria like art quality and attitude toward art, the special fund sponsored 20 to 50 percent of exhibit fees for different galleries. Almost all the exhibitors at this year's Art Beijing have benefited from the fund, according to Dong.

Wang's Pifo gallery is also one of the beneficiaries. "We are welcoming the fund, which offers very handy help to galleries," Wang says.

Using the fund, Dong has invited a group of prestigious media and collectors from overseas, hoping to "publicize participating galleries at the fair."

The Art Beijing fair will conclude on April 30, but Dong will continue his efforts to stimulate the art industry. Later this year, Art Beijing will introduce a sub-brand called Fine Art Beijing, which will be a fair exhibiting printmaking, watercolor paintings and ancient calligraphy.

And needless to say, the fair will be also supported by the Art Beijing Special Fund.

(CRI April 28, 2009)