Government launches Signature Performing Arts Programme Scheme
The Government announced today (October 2) the launch of the Signature Performing Arts Programme Scheme for selecting performing arts productions with potential and nurturing them to become representative and large-scale local performing arts productions for long-running performances.
Each selected programme under the Scheme will receive a maximum direct subsidy of $10 million to support expenses in areas such as creative concepts, stage productions, venue rentals, and marketing and promotion of the programme. To bring in resources from the community to jointly advance the development of local performing arts and to encourage the selected programmes to seek wider audience support, the Scheme will also provide a matching subsidy of up to $5 million to each selected programme to match the private sponsorship raised and box income received.
A selected programme must stage at least 15 stage performances in Hong Kong and attract a total of at least 10000 paid audience members. In addition, in accordance with the objective of nurturing large-scale and representative local performing arts productions for long-running performances, if a selected programme is able to make a profit in its first round of performances and stage a second round of performances of a similar scale in Hong Kong within the following 18 months, an additional subsidy equivalent to 20 per cent of the total funding support for the first round of the programme will be provided, with a view to encouraging successful programmes to be staged in Hong Kong on a long-running basis.
A Government spokesman said, "The Scheme will only select the best programmes among the applications for support, as its name suggests. The Scheme will play a pivotal role in showcasing Hong Kong's performing arts capability and further consolidate our role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange." The Scheme will be implemented in two rounds, with two quotas under each round. Application details for the first round will be announced in November this year, and the Scheme will be open for application before the end of this year.
The Scheme was announced in the 2023 Policy Address. It aims to support representative and large-scale local performing arts productions to be staged as long-running performances, nurture world-class performing arts productions and international cultural brands that represent Hong Kong, and attract people from other places to Hong Kong, setting a stage facing the world.
Renowned Hong Kong new media artist enriches artistic scene in collaborative project that transcends distance
Internationally renowned digital media artist Dr Hung Keung from Hong Kong will participate in Nuit Blanche, the largest contemporary art festival in Toronto, Canada, on October 5 (Toronto time). He will feature an extraordinary collaborative project with Canadian artist Lauren Runions in the form of a large-scale digital art installation titled "Dim Sum without Distance", which celebrates the culinary heritage of dim sum. This marks the first time that Hong Kong artists have participated in this annual mega event in Toronto. To share his experiences and updates about Hong Kong's art scene with Canadian artists and students, Dr Hung delivered a talk at York University on October 2 (Toronto time).
During the talk, themed "Creative Collaboration: From Research to Artistic Practice", Dr Hung provided insights into his artistic process and the significance of cross-cultural dialogue in contemporary art. Attendees had the opportunity to interact directly with Dr Hung, further enriching their experience with this ground-breaking cross-cultural project that intertwines visual art with the culinary heritage of dim sum.
The Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto), Ms Emily Mo, delivered a welcome message at the talk. She said that Hong Kong has always been a place where East meets West in arts and culture. "'Dim Sum without Distance' is not just an art installation; it is a celebration of cultural exchange and collaboration," she said. "The project is a testament to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's vision to develop Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange and an international cultural metropolis grounded in Chinese traditions and enriched by different cultures."
Dr Hung is a digital media artist and professor at the Education University of Hong Kong. He blends Chinese philosophy with digital media in an innovative artistic practice that explores interactive performance and experimental art. His large-scale installation piece, "Dim Sum without Distance", will be showcased at Love Park along the Toronto waterfront on the night of October 5 through October 6 (Toronto time). The project aligns with this year's festival theme, "Bridging Distance", engaging visitors with the profound connections between Hong Kong and Toronto through traditional Chinese landscape painting theory, new media, and the culinary art of dim sum.
Visitors to Nuit Blanche will have the opportunity to explore this vibrant intersection of art and cuisine and experience the connections that unite people, regardless of distance.
For more information on the installation and other projects at Nuit Blanche, please visit the thematic website at www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/festivals-events/nuitblanche/all-art-projects/?project_id=10d3b950-790a-4f3e-aad0-fa65b4edb791#location=&lat=&lng=&zoom=.
Renowned Hong Kong new media artist enriches artistic scene in collaborative project that transcends distance Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Renowned Hong Kong new media artist enriches artistic scene in collaborative project that transcends distance Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Renowned Hong Kong new media artist enriches artistic scene in collaborative project that transcends distance Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
