Beijing, Jan 19 (IANS): The Chinese government has announced the country's first inventory of collections in government art galleries since the People's Republic of China was established in 1949.

According to the Ministry of Culture, the census, which is due to complete by December 2016, will cover all art works preserved by art galleries on the Chinese mainland under the administration of cultural departments, Xinhua reported.

The preparation for the census has been completed and the government will next focus on data collection and database construction, said Vice Culture Minister Dong Wei.

Information to be collected in the census will include artist, date for creation, image, preservation status, among other things.

There are pressing problems in China's collections of art works, such as inadequate input, poor preservation, and lack of a clear picture of their status, the official said.

"The academic and social value of the art works has not been brought into full play."

Dong described the census as an action that will enable the country to have better grasp and scientifically evaluate the situation of its art works, and support their future preservation and promotion.