Fame spreads

Thanks to media reports, the workshop's fame has spread throughout China and overseas. In recent years, many college graduates from cities such as Beijing and Shanghai have volunteered to teach there.

Now, it has 10 resident teachers along with 40 others who teach on and off throughout the year. All are unpaid volunteers.

Last year, the workshop taught 53 students, with 17 from Dayuan and the rest from nearby villages. This summer, 76 students took holiday classes.

Subjects include poetry writing, nature observation, drama, music, photography and jewelry design.

Last year, the workshop also officially registered as a nonprofit organization and was allocated 100,000 yuan ($14,660) in government funding to improve its facilities.

In April, an outdoor theater was built in the village.

Zhou has recently been busy preparing a summer forest art festival. She invited artists and families from across the country to visit the workshop.

The UCCA plans to stage one of its exhibitions in Dayuan this year, Zhou said.

"The love and support I received during my childhood helped me go outside the village," she said.

"I wanted to show the rest of the world the strength of our rural children. Art will nourish those kids and motivate and give them inner strength to make changes for themselves."