It is without question that China is today synonymous with change. The past forty years in China - whether in terms of its geopolitical influence and economic position, or the complexion of life within the country - can be seen as a watershed time in modern history. This comes as the world gears up to face new challenges, which will be felt across societies globally, leading some to dub the twenty-first century the 'Chinese century'. Recognising that art and design have a unique and sometimes contested role in shaping Chinese society, The Centre: On Art and Urbanism in China is a collection of newly commissioned texts that examine modes of creative production, exhibition, curating, collecting and urban transformation, against a backdrop of critical perspectives on the historical moment and speculative futures. This volume features a range of key Chinese practitioners working today across art, design and architecture, and acts as an entry point to ongoing engagement with contemporary China.