A 10-month training program for performers of Tibetan Opera kicked off on Wednesday in Lhasa, Tibet autonomous region.

Organized by the region's cultural department — its first such training — the project aims to cultivate more artists, promote exchanges and communications between different opera practitioners and promote education, protection, inheritance and innovation.

"National-level actors from the regional Tibetan Opera troupe, as well as experts and scholars from the region's institute of ethnic art and the regional drama troupe, will be invited for lessons," Zou Jiamo, deputy head of department, said at the opening ceremony on Wednesday.

Zou said that 28 Tibetan Opera practitioners from the grassroots level in different parts of the region will participate in the training. The trainees will learn about Tibetan Opera performance, singing tones, dancing and theory during the training.

"As a treasure of excellent traditional Chinese culture, this form of opera needs to be inherited and protected. It is the root of the Chinese nation," said Zou, adding that literary and artistic workers have an obligation to promote culture, prosperity and the development of talent.

To date, the region has 153 folk Tibetan Opera teams, with more than 3,000 Tibetan artists practicing and preserving the art.