Huang Junying, famous Cantonese crosstalk artist, performs with his 11-year-old student. Photo: VCG

Cantonese crosstalk, a branch of the Chinese traditional comedic performance in the form of a dialogue, was offered 2.6 million yuan ($369,801) as initial funding for a foundation to stop the art form from disappearing.

Cantonese crosstalk developed from the crosstalk of northern China that was based on Putonghua in the 1950s. After nearly 70 years of development, "Cantonese crosstalk is an indispensable folk art in the Guangfu region, a Cantonese-speaking region containing Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao," according to a document sent to the Global Times by the Chinese Cultural Promotion Society of Guangdong.

Based on the traditional art forms of speaking, learning and teasing as well as singing in northern China's crosstalk, Cantonese crosstalk integrates the cultural elements of the Guangfu region and the characteristics of the Cantonese language. The contents of the performance are more in line with the interests and tastes of people living in the region.

As more art forms and different languages are introduced in the region, Cantonese crosstalk has become less popular and less well-known among the younger generations, and there is even a risk of it disappearing. "Cantonese crosstalk has entered the stage of talent shortage and lack of creation," Wu Xiaoxi, chief executive officer of the promotion society, told the Global Times on Monday.

There are less than 20 Cantonese crosstalk performers in Guangdong Province now, according to a report by China News Service.

To solve the problem, a special fund was launched on Saturday in Guangzhou. 

Wu said that the fund will be used to seek and train new talent. "We will go to kindergartens and schools to carry out the language art training of Cantonese among the young generations, and we will hold crosstalk contests in Cantonese regularly," she said.

As well as these measures, there are plans to edit and print textbooks about crosstalk, which will also need funding.

The initial fund of 2.6 million yuan has already been prepared and the promotion society has received donations from many crosstalk fans. The use of the funding will be managed and supervised by the promotion society.

The fund is one of various measures to protect and develop the folk art. An educational team for Cantonese crosstalk is being established, organized by professional performers who want to popularize the traditional artform.