Our Story
Felicia Schwartz
founder and director
Felicia is both an advertising veteran and well on her way to become an (old) China hand, first having set foot in China in 1993 as a student.
Famously, many advertising professionals are in fact disgruntled artists, and in this case, strong forces were pulling this one advertising executive between the commercial lure of the 4A’s and the emotional tug of the Arts before she realized there may yet be a role for her in between the two.
So, after ten years in advertising spanning Europe and China, in capacities reaching from client management to strategic planning, Felicia started China Creative Connections in 2005. CCC’s declared mission is to create bridges between the Arts and Business spheres, two worlds that may need each other, but often lack the keys to interact with another.
Since, she has conceptualized and managed major cultural events for the EU Delegation and other embassies, programmed art and performances for key events (Peugeot, Piaget, UPS…) and launched an Arts & Business initiative encompassing a market education effort and active sponsorship search for Arts organizations (Dashanzi Art Festival, NAMOC New Media Exhibition, London Sinfonia China tour…)
Hortense Halle-Yang
co-founder
Hortense connected with Asian cultures at an early age, as she lived and traveled in East and South-East Asia with her parents. Her passion for China grew through the contact of her Mandarin teacher, until she finally chose China as her destination to live and work. In preparation, she earned a BA in Chinese Language and Civilization from the Institute of Oriental Languages, Paris, followed by a Specialized Master in Marketing and Communication from ESCP Europe Business School.
After diverse experiences in communication, training, marketing and events in Southern China, Hortense kicked off her career in 2003 as marketing manager for the China subsidiary of a leading French dairy company. Along the way, she matured into an increased awareness of her innermost motivation, and following her passion, she decided to focus on supporting artists in their careers and offer magical moments to the public. This translated in 2005 into H!TANG, an artistic production agency organizing cultural and artistic events across dance, music, theater and visual arts. H!TANG was also quickly hired by companies to organize their corporate events when they were looking for a special artistic or cultural touch.
This is how she met Felicia, until they decided to team up in 2007, putting in common their complementary experience and talents.
Tobias Zuser
event manager
Tobias studied arts management in Austria, Germany and Hong Kong, and put China in the centre of his academic work. In 2010 his paper “Cultural policy and funding in the People’s Republic of China” was published as part of an anthology about sustainable event management.
As International Coordinator for the 29th World Conference for Music Education in Beijing, he took care of more than 1,000 artists from all over the world and organized China tours for ensembles like the Sydney Children’s Choir. Before coming to China, he gained experience at the “Komische Oper”, one of the three state-owned opera houses in Berlin.
Tobias was always a passionate supporter of youth and sub culture. He has been active as a journalist for more than seven years, writing about music and politics. As an acknowledged music critic, he was invited to be part of the jury of the Austrian Amadeus Music Award and also started his own event series, focusing on Balkan music and local talents.
Combining his passion, interest and experience, Tobias is an expert of the music scene in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. With his rich knowledge about Chinese online-culture and social media, he makes sure that he is always in the front row of the newest trends.
Elva Gao
operations manager
Elva graduated from The Central Conservatory of Music, with a major in music education. She joined H!TANG & CCC in April 2011.
Being passionate about music, she became a member of the most popular funk band in China, The Verse, as a background vocal after her graduation. During this time she gained valuable performing experience and toured with the band all around China, playing at different music festivals and at the most prestigious live houses. There she built up a strong network on the music scene.
Later she joined one of the top audio gear companies in Beijing and worked with experienced sound engineers from Australia, USA and Mexico. Some of her projects included the grand opening of the A.HOTEL, the Citroen Press Conference at Auto China and the entire sound installation of Park Hyatt’s XIU BAR. She continuously enriches her knowledge about the audio industry, sound installation and the acoustical analysis of venues.
Clarissa Holm
marketing manager
With a strong marketing and consumer goods background Clarissa joined the team in August 2011 having just accomplished two semesters of Chinese language training at Beijing Foreign Studies University with a scholarship of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
Already in high school she devoted herself to theatre projects, acting and directing simultaneously. Her first contact with China was an internship at Beihai Lizhu International Hotel. Later on she travelled extensively throughout South East Asia.
She studied a B.A. (hons) program in international management in Ireland and Germany and finished with a thesis in which she analyzed the application and the effectiveness of corporate events and trainings, especially in a change management situation.
Clarissa has worked in top advertising agencies like FHC Marketing and Scholz & Friends and has held several marketing and sales positions in international consumer goods companies Beiersdorf and L'Oréal. With her present position she combines three areas of interest - arts, business and China - she has pursued throughout the years.
China Creative Connections cooperates with domain experts for its diverse services and works in smaller or ad hoc adapted teams according to the diverse projects.