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The Hong Kong Arts Development
Council (HKADC) was established by ordinance
in 1995 to plan, promote and support the
broad development of all the arts —
literary, visual, performing, film and
media — and arts education in Hong
Kong.
It is dedicated to creating
a thriving environment for artistic pursuits
and supports the diversified development
of local artists and arts groups through
its three-year, one-year, devolved and
project grant schemes. The HKADC also
supported a new initiative to help foster
the continuous and dynamic growth of the
local arts community — The 'Pleasure-in-Play'
Pilot Project which allows Theatre Ensemble
to operate as a resident company at the
Hong Kong Arts Centre.
In addition to providing
financial support to local artists and
arts organisations, the HKADC collaborates
with various government departments, and
private and public bodies to bring the
arts closer to the general public.
The annual Hong Kong
Book Fair, co-presented with the Hong
Kong Trade Development Council, has been
presenting an array of arts and cultural
activities to the general public since
2000. The fair's annual competition for
students helps promote an interest in
reading and writing among young Hong Kong
people.
During the year the
HKADC joined forces again with the Art
Promotion Office of LCSD, New World First
Bus Services Limited, New World First
Ferry Services Limited and Citybus Limited
to organise the Mobile Art Expedition,
which brings the arts into the day-to-day
life of Hong Kong people. Works selected
through open competition were displayed
on nine buses and in the waiting area
of First Ferry Pier 5 in Central. The
council and MTR Property Management's
Arts Boutique project provided free performance
and exhibition venues for local artists
and arts groups in MTR shopping centres
for the second year running.
The HKADC also took
part in the 51st Venice Biennale in June.
Two local artists — anothermountainman
and Chan Yuk-keung — presented their
work under the curatorial direction of
Sabrina M.Y. Fung. In another venture,
HKADC, Hong Kong Baptist University and
Hong Kong Arts Centre, with the support
of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities
Trust, joined forces to convert a vacant
Shek Kip Mei factory into a creative arts
centre. The new Jockey Club Creative Arts
Centre is expected to open in mid-2007. |