Hong Kong Arts Festival Celebrates 45th Anniversary
Free Events in Embracing Hong Kong Community
Special Events to Celebrate the Establishment of the HKSAR
Two HKAF Productions Tour Abroad
(Hong Kong, 17 January 2017) The Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF) celebrates its 45th anniversary in 2017. To commemorate the milestone, HKAF announces a series of special events, together with events that are funded by the HKSAR Government in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR.
Co-presented by HKAF and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, SUPER POOL is created by US interactive media artist Jen Lewin. The interactive environment invites everyone to explore a computerised playground with over a hundred circular LED pads. Collaborative movements of participants create swirling effects of light and colour. It has attracted thousands of people in over 30 major arts events around the world. SUPER POOL is a free event to be staged in different periods in Chater Garden, Tsuen Wan Park, Hong Kong Maritime Museum and then Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza from 17 February to 18 March. Participation is free but advance registration is required.
HKAF also presents the 45th anniversary exhibition in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre foyer during the festival period, capturing precious moments and memories of past festivals as recalled by the team, and inviting everyone to share their own special memories as a record for the future.
Double Anniversary: Celebrating 20th Year of HKSAR Establishment
HKAF also received special funding from the HKSAR Government through the Leisure and Cultural Services Department for three events in the 45th HKAF to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR. These include Sascha Goetzel and the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, a co-production of the San Francisco Opera and Hong Kong Arts Festival Dream of the Red Chamber and Chorus by Ray Lee.
Chorus, a hypnotic installation by UK sound artist Ray Lee, will illuminate the evening dusk in Kowloon Park during 2-5, 7-10 March 2017. Towering above, a series of giant metal tripods support rotating arms. At the end of each arm loudspeakers emit precisely tuned musical pitches creating a pulsating, harmonic drone, singing out a hypnotic siren call to all those present. Chorus is a free event for everyone to participate. It does not require pre-registration.
Touring Abroad with HKAF Productions
At the same time, the HKAF also announces plans to remount two highly acclaimed productions in commemorating its 45th anniversary. HKAF, having presented and hosted numerous world-class performances, is proud to present home-grown productions received high acclaim and played to full houses in the première run.
Danz Up, teaming up street dance and theatre, was presented under the Jockey Club Local Creative Talents Series in 2016. It will be revived in May 2017 as Danz Up 2.0 before touring overseas. Written by Matthew Cheng and directed by Tang Wai-kit, with choreography by Shing Mak and music by Day Tai, the Hong Kong performances of this production will be co-presented with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust on 19-21 May at the Jockey Club Auditorium, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The cast of veteran actors and young dancers will then perform in Shenzhen’s Poly Theatre on 26-27 May and in the Drama Centre in Singapore on 9-10 June.
Chamber opera Datong – The Chinese Utopia, a HKAF production under the Jockey Club Local Creative Talents Series in 2015, will receive its European première on 27-28 July 2017 at the Richmond Theatre in London. This London tour is funded by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. Composed by renowned composer Chan Hing-yan, Datong - The Chinese Utopia traces the life of turn-of-the-century reformer Kang Youwei who advocated reformation in pursuit of a utopia of equality and solidarity. Directed by Tang Shu-wing, written by writer/filmmaker Evans Chan, and featuring a stellar all-Hong Kong cast, Datong - The Chinese Utopia reflects on the past while envisioning the future.
Ticketing/Participation Information
Registration to participate in SUPER POOL is available at superpoolhkaf.org from tomorrow (18 January 2017). Chorus is free of charge and advance registration is not required. For tickets of paid events at the 45th HKAF, patrons can make bookings at URBTIX (online at www.urbtix.hk, by phone (852) 2111 5999 or at URBTIX outlets.)
ABOUT THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL (HKAF)
Launched in 1973, the Hong Kong Arts Festival is a major international arts festival committed to enriching the cultural life of the city. This year HKAF presents over 1,600 of the world’s top artists and stars of tomorrow in 149 performances, placing equal importance on great traditions and contemporary creations. The Festival also commissions and produces work in theatre, music, chamber opera and contemporary dance by Hong Kong’s own creative talents and emerging artists, many of which have had successful subsequent runs both locally and overseas.
The Hong Kong Arts Festival is a non-profit organisation. Secured government baseline funding for the Festival in 2017 represents roughly 14% of its HK$120 million budget, with another 9% specially provided by the Government for programmes celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the HKSAR. Around 28% of the Festival’s income comes from the box office, and another 32% comes from sponsorships and donations from corporations, individuals, and charitable foundations. It is anticipated that the remaining 17% will come from the Government’s new matching scheme, which matches income generated through private sector sponsorships and donations.
PLUS PROGRAMMES AND YOUNG FRIENDS SCHEME
HKAF presents over 250 outreach and educational events in "PLUS" Programmes and Young Friends Scheme that offer diverse arts experiences to the community as well as tertiary, secondary and primary school students. The Young Friends Scheme, celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year, continues to provide a platform for young people in Hong Kong to be involved in performing arts, with an accumulated member of 148,000 and participating students of 710,000 as of 2016.
For more information, please visit: www.hk.artsfestival.org.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
For further enquiries, please contact Ms Katy Cheng, Marketing Director, on 2824 3555 or:
Alexia Chow, Marketing Manager, Hong Kong Arts Festival
Direct Line: 2828 4933; Email: alexia.chow@hkaf.org
For enquiries about SUPER POOL, please contact
Ms Yui Cheung, Chasing Culture
Phone: 5406 8267 or 3599 6963; Email: yui@chasing-culture.com
Free Events in Embracing Hong Kong Community
Special Events to Celebrate the Establishment of the HKSAR
Two HKAF Productions Tour Abroad
(Hong Kong, 17 January 2017) The Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF) celebrates its 45th anniversary in 2017. To commemorate the milestone, HKAF announces a series of special events, together with events that are funded by the HKSAR Government in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR.
Co-presented by HKAF and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, SUPER POOL is created by US interactive media artist Jen Lewin. The interactive environment invites everyone to explore a computerised playground with over a hundred circular LED pads. Collaborative movements of participants create swirling effects of light and colour. It has attracted thousands of people in over 30 major arts events around the world. SUPER POOL is a free event to be staged in different periods in Chater Garden, Tsuen Wan Park, Hong Kong Maritime Museum and then Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza from 17 February to 18 March. Participation is free but advance registration is required.
HKAF also presents the 45th anniversary exhibition in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre foyer during the festival period, capturing precious moments and memories of past festivals as recalled by the team, and inviting everyone to share their own special memories as a record for the future.
Double Anniversary: Celebrating 20th Year of HKSAR Establishment
HKAF also received special funding from the HKSAR Government through the Leisure and Cultural Services Department for three events in the 45th HKAF to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR. These include Sascha Goetzel and the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, a co-production of the San Francisco Opera and Hong Kong Arts Festival Dream of the Red Chamber and Chorus by Ray Lee.
Chorus, a hypnotic installation by UK sound artist Ray Lee, will illuminate the evening dusk in Kowloon Park during 2-5, 7-10 March 2017. Towering above, a series of giant metal tripods support rotating arms. At the end of each arm loudspeakers emit precisely tuned musical pitches creating a pulsating, harmonic drone, singing out a hypnotic siren call to all those present. Chorus is a free event for everyone to participate. It does not require pre-registration.
Touring Abroad with HKAF Productions
At the same time, the HKAF also announces plans to remount two highly acclaimed productions in commemorating its 45th anniversary. HKAF, having presented and hosted numerous world-class performances, is proud to present home-grown productions received high acclaim and played to full houses in the première run.
Danz Up, teaming up street dance and theatre, was presented under the Jockey Club Local Creative Talents Series in 2016. It will be revived in May 2017 as Danz Up 2.0 before touring overseas. Written by Matthew Cheng and directed by Tang Wai-kit, with choreography by Shing Mak and music by Day Tai, the Hong Kong performances of this production will be co-presented with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust on 19-21 May at the Jockey Club Auditorium, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The cast of veteran actors and young dancers will then perform in Shenzhen’s Poly Theatre on 26-27 May and in the Drama Centre in Singapore on 9-10 June.
Chamber opera Datong – The Chinese Utopia, a HKAF production under the Jockey Club Local Creative Talents Series in 2015, will receive its European première on 27-28 July 2017 at the Richmond Theatre in London. This London tour is funded by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. Composed by renowned composer Chan Hing-yan, Datong - The Chinese Utopia traces the life of turn-of-the-century reformer Kang Youwei who advocated reformation in pursuit of a utopia of equality and solidarity. Directed by Tang Shu-wing, written by writer/filmmaker Evans Chan, and featuring a stellar all-Hong Kong cast, Datong - The Chinese Utopia reflects on the past while envisioning the future.
Ticketing/Participation Information
Registration to participate in SUPER POOL is available at superpoolhkaf.org from tomorrow (18 January 2017). Chorus is free of charge and advance registration is not required. For tickets of paid events at the 45th HKAF, patrons can make bookings at URBTIX (online at www.urbtix.hk, by phone (852) 2111 5999 or at URBTIX outlets.)
ABOUT THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL (HKAF)
Launched in 1973, the Hong Kong Arts Festival is a major international arts festival committed to enriching the cultural life of the city. This year HKAF presents over 1,600 of the world’s top artists and stars of tomorrow in 149 performances, placing equal importance on great traditions and contemporary creations. The Festival also commissions and produces work in theatre, music, chamber opera and contemporary dance by Hong Kong’s own creative talents and emerging artists, many of which have had successful subsequent runs both locally and overseas.
The Hong Kong Arts Festival is a non-profit organisation. Secured government baseline funding for the Festival in 2017 represents roughly 14% of its HK$120 million budget, with another 9% specially provided by the Government for programmes celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the HKSAR. Around 28% of the Festival’s income comes from the box office, and another 32% comes from sponsorships and donations from corporations, individuals, and charitable foundations. It is anticipated that the remaining 17% will come from the Government’s new matching scheme, which matches income generated through private sector sponsorships and donations.
PLUS PROGRAMMES AND YOUNG FRIENDS SCHEME
HKAF presents over 250 outreach and educational events in "PLUS" Programmes and Young Friends Scheme that offer diverse arts experiences to the community as well as tertiary, secondary and primary school students. The Young Friends Scheme, celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year, continues to provide a platform for young people in Hong Kong to be involved in performing arts, with an accumulated member of 148,000 and participating students of 710,000 as of 2016.
For more information, please visit: www.hk.artsfestival.org.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
For further enquiries, please contact Ms Katy Cheng, Marketing Director, on 2824 3555 or:
Alexia Chow, Marketing Manager, Hong Kong Arts Festival
Direct Line: 2828 4933; Email: alexia.chow@hkaf.org
For enquiries about SUPER POOL, please contact
Ms Yui Cheung, Chasing Culture
Phone: 5406 8267 or 3599 6963; Email: yui@chasing-culture.com