Recently, the news that 12 professionals from new literary and artistic groups, including Hailai Amu and Jamyang Dolma, have been awarded deputy senior professional titles has attracted widespread attention. This marks the first time Sichuan has conducted a centralized evaluation of deputy senior titles for new literary and artistic professionals. On April 8, an article titled "Evaluated Based on Professional Achievements and Work Quality: 12 New Literary and Artistic Professionals in Sichuan Awarded Deputy Senior Titles" was published on page 12 of the People's Daily, focusing on this matter. The report stated that the awarding of deputy senior titles to these 12 individuals represents the initial results of Sichuan's targeted reforms in the professional title system. Many grassroots literary and artistic workers expressed that the reforms have broken down barriers between those inside and outside the system, making performance-based evaluation a consensus and providing them with clear goals for their efforts.
Earlier, on March 30, the China Art News published an article titled "Breaking Down 'Invisible Barriers' and Building a 'Path to Success': A Record of Sichuan's First Evaluation of Deputy Senior Titles for New Literary and Artistic Professionals," which detailed many aspects of the evaluation process. The report highlighted that behind these professional title certificates lies a groundbreaking move by the Sichuan Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles in reforming the talent evaluation mechanism. On September 30, 2025, under the guidance of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and with the support of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security and the Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the Sichuan Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles issued a notice officially launching the evaluation of deputy senior titles for professionals in the acting, directing (choreography), and fine arts categories within the new literary and artistic groups. Out of 55 initial applicants, after qualification reviews, defenses, peer evaluations, and voting, 12 outstanding individuals were selected and officially awarded deputy senior titles. This not only signifies substantial progress in unleashing the creative potential of literary and artistic professionals in Sichuan but also indicates that countless "literary and artistic individuals" rooted at the grassroots level and active among the public are increasingly gaining national professional recognition.
The report explained that "new literary and artistic groups" refer to freelance literary and artistic workers represented by online writers, contracted writers, freelance writers, independent producers, independent actors and singers, and freelance fine arts workers, who have emerged alongside the development of the cultural industry and new media technologies. In recent years, new literary and artistic organizations and groups have proliferated and become increasingly active, serving as a vital force in enriching and developing socialist culture. Despite having works, markets, and audiences, they have long faced invisible barriers in career development—the lack of professional titles. This has often hindered them when applying for projects, participating in talent evaluations, or competing for awards due to the absence of a recognized evaluation system.
This groundbreaking initiative stems from targeted and forward-looking top-level design. In September 2020, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism jointly issued a document emphasizing the advantages and role of federations of literary and art circles and writers' associations in connecting with new literary and artistic professionals. It designated these federations and associations as the primary channels for evaluating professional titles for new literary and artistic groups and supported their establishment of art series professional title evaluation committees in accordance with procedures. In June 2022, the Personnel Department of the Sichuan Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles led a special investigation, using online and offline questionnaires to gain in-depth understanding of the challenges and difficulties in evaluating professional titles for new literary and artistic groups in the province. The investigation covered 28 items across seven areas, with 517 valid questionnaires collected. Data showed that over 90% of new literary and artistic professionals expressed a strong desire for professional title evaluation, laying a solid foundation for the work.
In April 2024, the Sichuan Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles began preparations, engaging in multiple communications with the Sichuan Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security and the Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism. In September 2024, the Sichuan Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security officially authorized the Sichuan Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles as the primary channel for conducting the evaluation of deputy senior titles for new literary and artistic groups in the art series across the province.
To ensure that the policy benefits reach every deserving creator, the Sichuan Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles established a well-coordinated and targeted working mechanism. First, it formed a high-level expert database for the evaluation committee to ensure authority and credibility. Experts were strictly selected based on their moral integrity, artistic excellence, and industry recognition. They primarily came from provincial literary and art associations, key universities, and major art troupes, all with at least three years of continuous work experience in relevant fields and holding deputy senior or higher professional titles for at least three years. Currently, the database includes 96 senior experts and 25 deputy senior experts. Their profound expertise, rich practical experience, and strong professional ethics provided solid support for the evaluation process.
Second, services were extended downward, shifting from a passive "waiting for applicants" approach to proactive assistance. The Sichuan Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles adopted a "whole-province" perspective, intensifying policy promotion and training. Evaluation notices were disseminated through official websites, WeChat public accounts, and platforms of provincial literary and art associations. On October 14, 2025, the Sichuan Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles held a training session for application work, attended by over 70 representatives from municipal and prefectural federations responsible for title applications, new literary and artistic organizations, and new literary and artistic groups. Policy interpretations and system demonstrations were provided to streamline the application process. Additionally, a "safety-net application" mechanism was established, allowing independent literary and artistic professionals without organizational affiliations to apply directly through the provincial federation, ensuring that all eligible individuals could participate. Given the wide distribution and varying levels of digital literacy among new literary and artistic groups, the federation set up consultation hotlines offering one-on-one guidance. By the application deadline, over 300 phone consultations and 30 in-person visits had been handled.
A responsible official from the Personnel Department of the Sichuan Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles recalled an instance where an applicant sought consultation. Staff patiently explained each requirement clause by clause, assisted in comparing materials, and worked until 10 p.m. to organize and submit the application to the evaluation system. The dedication and responsibility of the staff made new literary and artistic professionals feel that the once-invisible "barrier" had been broken, and the federation had become an accessible and warm "growth station" for them.
Third, the evaluation process was standardized to ensure fairness and transparency. The Sichuan Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles developed detailed evaluation plans and manuals, strictly adhering to procedures for senior professional title evaluations. During the material review stage, qualifications and achievements were rigorously verified, with emphasis on authenticity, value, and professional relevance. Questionable materials were promptly addressed, and ineligible applicants were clearly rejected, ensuring traceability and accountability. In the evaluation organization phase, 25 experts were randomly selected from the database to form evaluation panels for directing, acting, and fine arts categories. Special training was conducted before evaluations to clarify discipline and standards. During evaluations, thorough discussions and objective assessments were carried out. Complaint channels were publicly disclosed, and social supervision was actively welcomed to guarantee fairness and impartiality.
The China Art News report stated that facilitating professional title evaluations for new literary and artistic groups is a new starting point. The Sichuan Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles has clearly proposed a working approach of "gathering new talent through evaluation and revitalizing culture through evaluation," aiming to transform evaluation outcomes into a powerful driving force for high-quality development in the literary and artistic sectors. Currently, those awarded titles have been included in a talent pool for "new literary and artistic organizations and groups," enjoying "green channel" treatment in areas such as project support, skill enhancement, and成果展示. For young backbone talents, the federation will proactively build high-end platforms, encouraging their participation in national and provincial major creative projects, allowing them to take leading roles and showcase their talents on core stages.
Moving forward, the Sichuan Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles will continue to deepen professional title evaluation work for new literary and artistic groups, actively coordinating with the Sichuan Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security to introduce more targeted evaluation criteria and indicators. Simultaneously, efforts will be made to gradually promote the evaluation of junior and intermediate professional titles within the provincial federation system, establishing a complete professional title framework from junior to senior levels. This will accelerate the quality and quantity of professional title evaluations for new literary and artistic groups, enabling more aspiring literary and artistic professionals to shine.
Public information shows that Hailai Amu, of the Yi ethnicity, was born in April 1993 in Ganluo County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. He is a singer and songwriter and was elected as a vice chairman of the Chengdu Federation of Literary and Art Circles in April 2025.
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