LCSD Cultural Presentations

During the year, the LCSD presented 1 811 performances, covering a rich variety of performing arts programmes given by local and visiting artists. These attracted a total audience of some 814 000 people.

    Musical highlights included concerts by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra with Lorin Maazel; the 'Midsummer Classics' by the Budapest Concert Orchestra; The Music of the Dragons Concert to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR; a newly commissioned production of the Italian opera Madama Butterfly, as well as a Russian opera, Eugene Onegin, and an Italian opera, Nabucco, by the Latvian National Opera. The LCSD also presented thematic programmes including the 'Encore Series', the 'Music Rendezvous — City Hall Concert Hall Series', the 'Jazz Up Series' and 'The Rhythm & The Beat Percussion Series'.

    Highlights of dance programmes included contemporary performances by the acclaimed Cloud Gate Dance Theatre from Taiwan, the creative Random Dance Company from the UK and the local City Contemporary Dance Company. Ballet performances by the Kirov Ballet and the Hong Kong Ballet were well received. There was also a series of flamenco and other ethnic dance performances by companies such as the Compañia Maria Pagés from Spain, the National Dance Company of Korea and the Dance Drama Troupe of China Opera and Dance Theatre, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of various traditions.

    On the multi-arts front, the Military Band of the People's Liberation Army of China and the People's Liberation Army Forces, Hong Kong gave a combined musical and drill performance to celebrate the HKSAR's 5th Anniversary. Cookin' from the Republic of Korea, Canada's Circo Commedia and Harry Wong's Magic Made in Hong Kong as the programmes in the 'Comedy Series' were well received. Other highlights included the multimedia music theatre M Garden by Kung Chi Shing and His Friends, multimedia theatre Heading West by the Theatre Fanatico as well as puppet performances by the Pikkari Theatre from Japan.

    A large number of the theatre programmes presented were works by local creative forces including the Chung Ying Theatre Company, Zuni Icosahedron, Theatre Ensemble, Actors' Family and the Prospects Theatre. Performances were also given by the China National Drama Theatre.

    In 2002, major Chinese opera programmes included The Gems of the Qi School of Peking Opera by the Zhejiang Peking Opera Troupe with guest artists from the China Peking Opera Theatre, the Shanghai Peking Opera Theatre and the Peking Opera Theatre of Jiangxi Province to pay tribute to Zhou Xinfang (a famous Peking Opera master) for his outstanding artistry, and A Showcase of Traditional Cantonese Opera of the Southern School by the Cantonese Opera Troupe of Wuchuan City of Guangdong. Two Kunqu opera programmes were arranged to arouse people's interest in that art form. Newly commissioned Cantonese opera works included Lee Kwong Wong, a story based on Shakespeare's King Lear; Xining Reform; A Ghostly Tale; Rhododendron Mountain; and Between Laughter and Tears.

    During the year, the department sponsored or jointly organised with consulates general and cultural institutions various large-scale activities to promote cultural exchanges. These included French and Japanese cultural shows. With a view to promoting contemporary music, the department co-presented with the Hong Kong Composers' Guild and the Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong the 'ISCM World Music Days 2002 Hong Kong'.

Entertainment Programmes

During the year, a total of 663 carnivals and entertainment programmes were organised by the LCSD in parks, playgrounds, community halls as well as in the department's cultural venues. These covered a variety of performing arts presentations and attracted more than 782 600 people.

    Outdoor entertainment extravaganzas included the Spring Lantern Festival, Easter Family Fun Day, Summer Fun Gala, Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival, Christmas Fun Gala and New Year's Eve Countdown Carnival. Celebrating the Spring Lantern and Mid-Autumn Festivals, the department staged for the first time spectacular lantern displays at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza to promote traditional Chinese culture among tourists and local residents. Thematic programmes such as the 'Evening Melodies Concert' for office workers and the 'Asian Ethnic Cultural Programmes' received an enthusiastic response from local people as well as Asian nationals living in Hong Kong.

Audience Building Projects

To make arts more accessible to the public and heighten the quality of life, the LCSD has devised various audience-building projects to cater for the needs of different communities.

    During the year, the department sought creative proposals in this regard from the arts circle through the Community Cultural Ambassador Scheme and the 'Artist-in-residence' Scheme. Activities under the two schemes were arranged in 10 of the department's performing arts venues or conducted by 'Community Cultural Ambassadors' at sites where different groups of people gathered, such as parks, piazzas, elderly centres, youth centres and community halls.

    To encourage the public, especially the young generation, to appreciate and participate in Cantonese opera activities, the department continued to organise the 'District Cantonese Opera Parade'. During the year, 16 amateur district Cantonese opera troupes were selected to perform in four civic centres. Moreover, 80 schools were selected to join the 'School Arts Animateur Scheme' for their students to practise specific art forms through lecture demonstrations and workshops.

    The department also launched the Cultural Services Volunteers Scheme, which enabled enthusiastic members of the public to help enhance various cultural and arts services of performing arts venues, museums and libraries. Under the School Culture Day Scheme, participating schools may select suitable activities and arrange for their students to take part in cultural activities during school hours at the department's performing arts venues, museums and libraries.

Hong Kong International Film Festival

Presented by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, the 26th Hong Kong International Film Festival offered a wide range of programmes. The highlights of the 12-day festival included a retrospective on local film-maker Ann Hui; a tribute to Czech animator Jan Svankmajer; Planet Osaka, on the latest developments in independent film-making in Japan; In the Shadow of War, a nine-film feature on war-related subjects; and the introduction of Midnight Heat, a selection of films with cult potential. The Hong Kong Film Archive, which organised the retrospective section, contributed Back to Dreamland: Cathay Showcase. The winner of the FIPRESCI (International Film Critics Federation) Award was the local animation feature My Life as McDull.

    Altogether, there were more than 300 screenings of films from 40 countries as well as special topics that included Director in Focus, Age of Independents, The Zone and Hong Kong Panorama (2001–02). Seminars, forums, outdoor screenings and an exhibition were also organised.

Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards

Jointly presented by the LCSD and the Hong Kong Arts Centre, the annual competition aims to encourage creative non-commercial independent productions of short film and video and to promote public interest in film and video as artistic communicative and expressive media. In order to attract more public attention, a Short Film Festival will be organised in 2003. This will include local as well as Asian productions.

Film and Video Programmes

The film and video programmes, presented either solely by the LCSD or jointly with local consulate offices, cultural institutions and various film organisations, continued to provide a variety of alternative film programmes and workshops for the public. Major programmes included Tribute to Chang Cheh, Fragrant Screen — the Exquisite Fong Yim-fun and Hong Kong Films and Popular Culture. There was also a 'Repertory Cinema' on six renowned film-makers: Francesco Rosi, Jean Renoir, Ingmar Bergman, Werner Herzog, Robert Bresson and R.W. Fasbinder. Films from the Mainland, India, Egypt, France, Germany, Russia and European Union countries were presented during the year. In order to nurture an appreciation of films among young people, a 'Family Films Carnival' was held in summer, as well as a series of film and video workshops and screenings.