女士们、先生们：

今天，我们相聚在此，向一位被誉为“可领风骚数百年”的超世之才授予“文化艺术特别成就奖”的殊荣，并向他的艺术与生活致以敬意！崔自默先生是一位贯通传统与现代的艺术家。无论是挥毫泼墨，还是按动快门；无论是雕微琢细，还是斧凿宏伟，他那融汇艺术与科学的创作，已使他成为当今中国最伟大的国宝级艺术家之一。

作为一名国家艺术机构的学者，崔自默先生正肩负着向更年青一代艺术家传授中国书画技法和哲理的使命。他是中国人民无形文化资产的继承者和传播者，他的贡献赢得了我们联合国教科文（UNESCO）官方咨询机构-民间艺术国际组织（IOV）的认可。2009年，中国书法艺术曾入选非物质文化遗产代表名录，联合国教科文组织正式确认书法在中国知识及艺术遗产中以及在中国人民日常生活中的重要地位。

我们很高兴向崔自默先生颁发民间艺术国际组织（IOV）的最高奖项——“文化艺术特别成就奖”——以表彰崔自默先生在文化艺术以及中国非物质文化遗产保护领域所做出的杰出贡献。

在IOV, 我们深知保护人类非物质文化遗产的重要性。作为国际专业的非政府机构，从1992年起即与联合国教科文组织携手致力于此项事业。从最初的业务合作发展成为正式咨询关系。2012年又接受联合国教科文组织委托向联合国教科文组织非物质文化遗产保护政府间委员会提供咨询服务。今年7月，如我们早时公布的那样，IOV 还将获得联合国经济与社会理事会批准，正式被接纳为特别咨询关系机构。

2003年，联合国教科文组织批准“非物质文化遗产保护公约”。教科文组织认可像崔自默先生一样的艺术家们工作的重要性，强调文化遗产必须运用于满足当代社会需求，才能得以保护。崔自默先生一定理解这一概念的含义，因为他已经把理论与艺术实践很好地结合起来，倡导文化遗产成为“有用的艺术”。作为

一名传播中国非物质文化遗产的中国书画导师，崔自默先生的艺术一定会持续激励中国人民，乃至世界人民，世世代代。

为进一步表彰崔自默先生为传统艺术和中国非物质文化遗产领域所做出的贡献，我们特授崔自默博士联合国教科文民间艺术国际组织（IOV）的“中国终身荣誉会员”，并邀请他担任“IOV形象大使”。

祝贺崔自默先生！

27.03.2012

【原文】

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Today we honor the life and work of a man who has been called a “genius of the last five hundred years.” Mr. Cui Zimo is an artist whose works include the traditional and the modern. Whether using a brush or a camera, carving a wax seal or coordinating an installation, Cui Zimo’s melding of art and science earns him a place among China’s greatest living treasures.

As a professor at the National Academy of Arts, Cui Zimo is entrusted with passing the philosophy and technique of Chinese calligraphy on to younger generations of artists. This role, as practitioner and transmitter of the intangible cultural heritage of the Chinese people, earns him the recognition of the International Organization of Folk Art (IOV), an NGO in Formal Consultative Relations with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In 2009, the artistry of Chinese Calligraphy was named to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. In so doing, UNESCO recognized the place calligraphy has in the intellectual and artistic heritage of China, as well as in the everyday lives of ordinary Chinese people.

We are pleased to present Mr. Cui Zimo with the highest award given by the International Organization of Folk Art, IOV. The President’s Award for Distinguished Achievement in Arts and Culture acknowledges the significance of Mr. Cui Zimo’s contributions, both as artist and teacher, to Chinese intangible cultural heritage, art and culture.

At IOV, we understand the importance of safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage. Since 1992, IOV has partnered with UNESCO, first as an NGO in operations relations and now in formal consultative relations. In 2010, IOV was accredited to provide advisory services to the Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee at UNESCO, and in July of this year, IOV will be recognized by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) with admission to Special Consultative Relations, as was announced earlier this year.

In 2003, UNESCO ratified the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. In so doing, it prepared the way for recognizing the important work of artists like Cui Zimo. In order to survive, cultural heritage must evolve to fill the needs of contemporary communities. An advocate for “useful art,” Cui Zimo understands this concept as he demonstrates by integrating theory and practice. As a teacher of the intangible cultural heritage of Chinese calligraphy, Cui Zimo’s artistry will continue to inspire the Chinese people, and indeed all humanity, for generations to come.

In further recognition of his contributions to folk art and to the intangible cultural heritage of the Chinese People, we invite Mr. Cui Zimo to become Honorary member for life-time of IOV China and Goodwill Ambassador of the International Organization of Folk Art –IOV.

Congratulations to Mr. Cui Zimo.

George Frandsen