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A warning by the Communist Party's flagship newspaper could point to a widening of the anti-graft campaign to the arts. Photo: AP

Party mouthpiece accuses artists of colluding in graft

Party mouthpiece says cultural figures are befriending powerful and wealthy in possible sign crackdown could broaden to new targets

A signed commentary in warned that an increasing number of celebrated artists and cultural intellectuals were using their fame to collude in corruption with the powerful and the wealthy.

The warning by the Communist Party's flagship newspaper on Monday could point to a widening of the anti-graft campaign to include the cultural and entertainment sectors.

It said that some famous cultural intellectuals and artists were acting as co-conspirators in corruption scandals.

"They use their names to befriend both the powerful and the wealthy, and make themselves middlemen," it said.

"That is co-conspiracy among the powerful, the wealthy and the cultural intellectuals," it added.

Recent reports have suggested that cultural products, such as modern and traditional artworks, were becoming popular "gifts" to buy corrupt officials.

Analysts said the cultural and show business sectors had come under the spotlight after party investigators discovered that famous calligraphers, musicians and artists had been tied to corruption scandals.

A number of officials under investigation were involved in the arts.

President Xi Jinping recently ordered officials throughout the government to sever their ties to cultural circles, such as calligraphy associations and other art groups.

Xigen Li, an associate professor at City University's department of media and communication, said that when the pursuit of money became the common goal of a society, the drive to root out corruption would no longer be restricted to the government.

Li said the extension of the campaign to the world of culture and arts reflected the widespread exchange between power and money.

Noting that some people might use sales of artworks as a way to bribe officials, the article said a drawing, a work of calligraphy, a song, a drama script or a show could be an instrument for corruption.

Li said the transaction between artworks and money was not purely based on market value. The rules behind it were still the ones that governed the transaction between power and money.

"One's artwork of inferior quality gains added value along with the rise of political power," Li said, adding the exchange of favours existed in more areas than the public could see.

The commentary in asked leading cultural intellectuals and artists to use their fame properly to serve society and engage in philanthropic activities such as fundraising activities for Aids patients, indirect praise for first lady Peng Liyuan .

Peng, a famous folk singer, is a goodwill ambassador for tuberculosis and HIV/Aids, for the World Health Organisation.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Anti-Graft campaign may widen to arts
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