STATUTE OF THE WORLD ASSOCIATION FOR PERFORMING ARTS
Chapter 1 General Principles
Article 1 The name of this association shall be “ 世 界 剧 院 联 盟 ” in Chinese and “World Association for Performing Arts” in English
(abbreviated as “WAPA”).
Article 2 The WAPA is an international, professional and non-profit social organization formed voluntarily by theaters, cultural groups, art colleges, cultural companies, and other institutions of performing arts.
Article 3 The objective of the WAPA is to promote the international development of outstanding performing arts with national and regional characteristics and the integration of science and technology with performing arts by building an open and multilateral exchange platform so as to facilitate the exchange and mutual learning and common prosperity of world civilizations.
The WAPA shall comply with the constitution, laws, regulations,
and policies in the State of registration, as well as the public morality.
Article 4 The WAPA shall follow the business guidance and supervision of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China (the corresponding regulatory authority), as well as the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (the registering authority).
Article 5 The domicile of the WAPA shall be in Beijing, China.
Chapter 2 Scope of Activities
Article 6 The scope of activities of the WAPA shall include:
a). building an international and regular exchange platform, providing professional services and acting as a platform of information communication for all members;
b). organizing professional forums to discuss development topics in various fields of performing arts;
c). maintaining international cooperation in the professional field and organizing thematic activities such as opera film screening, online showing of resources and talent training;
d). proposing industry-wide initiatives to jointly promote the spread and development of performing arts worldwide; and
e). conducting other cultural cooperation and exchanges in line with
the objectives of the WAPA.
Chapter 3 Membership
Article 7 The WAPA consists of institutional members.
Article 8 Membership of the WAPA is open to all those who:
a). have the willingness to join the WAPA;
b). accept the Statute of the WAPA;
c). are well recognized in the professional field; and
d). have the willingness and ability to fulfill the obligations of
members.
Article 9 Admission to the WAPA shall be subject to the following
procedures:
a). submission by an applicant for admission to the WAPA;
b). deliberation and approval by the Council; and
c). issue of membership certificate by the Council or by an agency
delegated by the Council.
Article 10 Members of the WAPA shall have the right to:
a). elect, be elected and vote within the WAPA;
b). attend the activities held by the WAPA;
c). be prioritized in receiving the services of the WAPA;
d). advise and supervise the work of the WAPA;
e). voluntarily join and quit the WAPA; and
f). be entitled with other relevant rights conferred by the WAPA.
Article 11 Members of the WAPA undertake to:
a). comply with the Statute, and resolutions adopted by the WAPA;
b). safeguard the lawful rights and interests of the WAPA;
c). complete the work assigned by the WAPA;
d). pay the membership fee as required;
e). report and provide relevant information and materials to the
WAPA; and
f). other relevant duties as prescribed by the WAPA.
Article 12 Should a member wish to withdraw from the WAPA, it shall notify the WAPA in written form and return the membership certificate.Where a member has failed to pay the membership fee for over two years or attend the activities of the WAPA, the member shall be deemed as having withdrawn from the WAPA on its own.
Article 13 Where a member of the WAPA has seriously violated the Statute, it may be expelled from the WAPA after the Council has so
decided by vote.
Chapter 4 Organizational Structure, Election and Removal of
Persons in Charge
Article 14 The General Meeting of Members is the supreme authority of
the WAPA. The General Meeting shall have the powers to:
a). formulate and amend the Statute;
b). elect and remove members of the Council;
c). review the work report and financial report of the Council;
d). formulate and amend the standards of membership fee;
e). decide on the issues of termination; and
f). decide on other important issues.
Article 15 The quorum of the General Meeting is two thirds of its members, and its resolution may only be adopted by a simple majority vote of members present at the meeting.
Article 16 The WAPA shall hold a General Meeting every two years.
Article 17 The Council is the executive organ of the General Meeting, with a term of office of four years, and shall lead the WAPA’s daily work when the General Meeting is not in session. The Council shall be responsible to the General Meeting.
Article 18 The Council shall have the powers to:
a). implement the resolutions adopted by the General Meeting;
b). elect and dismiss the Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson and the Secretary-General;
c). prepare for the convention of the General Meeting;
d). report the work and financial information to the General Meeting;
e). decide on the admission or expulsion of the members;
f). decide on the establishment, change and deregistration of the agencies, branch offices, representative offices and entities;
g). decide on the appointment of the Deputy Secretary-General and the directors of all agencies;
h). lead the work of the WAPA;
i). enact internal management rules; and
j). decide on other important issues.
Article 19 The quorum of a Council meeting is two thirds of the Council members, and the resolutions of the Council may only be adopted by a majority vote of two thirds of the Council members present at the meeting.
Article 20 The Council shall hold meetings at least once a year. In exceptional circumstances, the meeting may be held through communication.
Article 21 The Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson and the Secretary-General of the WAPA shall meet the following qualifications:
a). having a recognized influence in the professional field of the WAPA;
b). not exceeding the age of 70 years old upon appointment (with the
Secretary-General working in full-time);
c). in good health conditions and capable of working;
d). having no record of criminal penalty;
e). with full civil capacity; and
f). willing to contribute actively to the development of the WAPA.
Article 22 In case the candidates for the Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson or the Secretary-General of the WAPA have exceeded the age requirement, the appointment by the Council may only come into effect after the review of the corresponding regulatory authority and approval of the registering authority.
Article 23 The term of office of the Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson or the Secretary-General of the WAPA shall be four years and they shall serve no more than two consecutive terms. In case the term of office of the Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson or the Secretary-General has to be extended due to exceptional circumstances, the appointment could be only adopted by a majority vote of two thirds of the members present at the General Meeting, the coming into effect of which is subject to the review of the corresponding regulatory authority and approval of the registering authority.
Article 24 The Chairperson shall be the legal representative of the WAPA.
In special circumstances, the Chairperson may delegate the Vice Chairperson or the Secretary-General as the legal representative of the WAPA upon the review of the corresponding regulatory authority and approval of the registering authority.
The legal representative may sign important documents on behalf of
the WAPA.
The legal representative of the WAPA shall not concurrently serve
as the legal representative of any other organization.
Article 25 The Chairperson of the WAPA shall exercise the following
functions:
a). to convene and preside over the meetings of the Council; and
b). to oversee the implementation of resolutions of the General
Meeting and the Council.
Article 26 The Secretary-General of the WAPA shall exercise the powers
to:
a). preside over the daily work of the agencies, and organize the
implementation of annual work plans;
b). coordinate the work of all branch offices, representative offices and entities;
c). nominate the Deputy Secretary-General as well as the directors of all agencies to the Council for decision;
d). suggest the appointment of full-time employees in the agencies,
representative offices and entities to the Council for decision;
e). propose initiatives to the Council;
f). take charge of the implementation of other issues delegated or
authorized by the General Meeting or the Council; and
g). deal with other daily business.
Chapter 5 Principles on Management and Use of Asset
Article 27 The funds of the WAPA may come from:
a). membership fees;
b). donations;
c). governmental financial support;
d). income from activities or services conducted within the approved scope of activities;
e). deposit interests; and
f). other lawful income.
Article 28 The membership fee shall be charged under the relevant provisions of the State of registration.
Article 29 The funds of the WAPA must be used for the development of the cause and within the scope of activities as provided in this Statute, and shall not be distributed to its members.
Article 30 The WAPA shall establish a strict financial management system to guarantee that the accounting materials are lawful, true, accurate and complete.
Article 31 The WAPA shall employ accountants with professional qualifications. The accountant may not concurrently serve as a cashier. The accountant must conduct financial accounting, and implement accounting supervision. When an accountant resigns or is to be transferred to another post, the accountant must conduct the handing over procedures in a competent manner with his or her successor.
Article 32 The financial management system of the WAPA shall implement the financial management system of the State of registration and shall be supervised by the General Meeting and the financial department of the WAPA. Where the sources of the assets come from
social donations or government financial support, such assets must be
subject to the supervision of the auditing agencies. Relevant information
shall be disclosed to the public by appropriate means.
Article 33 The WAPA shall accept the financial auditing before the re-election of the leadership or the change of the legal representative.
Article 34 The assets of the WAPA shall not be misappropriated, illicitly
distributed or embezzled by any individual or organization.
Article 35 Wages, insurance and benefits of full-time employees of the WAPA shall apply the relevant rules of the State of registration by taking
into account the relevant internationally accepted practice.
Chapter 6 Procedures for the Amendment of the Statute
Article 36 The amendments to the Statute of the WAPA shall be submitted to the Council for a vote and, upon an affirmative decision of
the Council, further reviewed and approved by the General Meeting.
Article 37 The amended Statute shall be sent to the corresponding
regulatory authority and registering authority within 15 days after the
amendment has been adopted by the General Meeting. The amended Statute shall not come into effect until it has been reviewed and approved
by the corresponding regulatory authority and the registering authority.
Chapter 7 Procedure for Termination and Disposal of Properties
Article 38 Where the WAPA needs to be deregistered as a result of self-dissolution, division or merger, the Council shall propose the termination.
Article 39 The proposal of termination of the WAPA shall be voted and adopted by the General Meeting. The decision of the WAPA shall be reported to the corresponding regulatory authority for review and approval.
Article 40 Prior to its termination, the WAPA shall, under the supervision of the corresponding regulatory authority and other authorities, constitute a liquidation organ to settle the credits and debts and deal with follow-up matters. No activities other than liquidation shall be carried out during the liquidation period.
Article 41 The WAPA terminates upon completing the deregistration
procedures with registering authority.
Article 42 The remaining properties of the WAPA after its termination may not be misappropriated or illicitly distributed by any members, and shall, under the joint supervision of the corresponding regulatory authority and the registering authority, be used in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State of registration for the development of the cause related to the objectives of the WAPA.
Chapter 8 Miscellaneous Provisions
Article 43 This Statute is adopted by the General Meeting by vote on
November 12, 2023.
Article 44 The Council of the WAPA shall have the right to interpret this
Statute.
Article 45 This Statute shall come into force as of the date of its approval
by the registering authority.