The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and Hong Kong Arts Festival

Strengthen Strategic Partnership through signing a Memorandum of Understanding

(Hong Kong, 3 March 2026)

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) and the Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF) are delighted to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a new chapter in their long-standing partnership. The agreement builds on the two parties’ rich legacy of artistic exchange and collaboration, reinforcing both organisations’ shared vision for the future development of the arts.

This MoU establishes a framework for strategic collaboration. By leveraging their complementary strengths, HKAPA and HKAF commit to advancing talent development, artistic innovation, industry advocacy, and cross-artform production, with an emphasis on both Hong Kong and the global stage.

Academy Director Professor Anna CY Chan remarks, "This MoU recognises the strong synergy between HKAPA and HKAF and affirms our shared commitment to enriching Hong Kong’s arts and cultural landscape, particularly within the Greater Bay Area. It represents a strategic step forward in deepening collaboration that fosters talent development, artistic exchange, and innovative cross-sector initiatives with impact both locally and internationally. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, the Academy will continue to partner with diverse sectors of the community to develop core concepts around cultural sharing for nurturing creative talent.”

Executive Director of the HKAF Ms Flora Yu adds, “We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with HKAPA through this MoU. The Academy has long been an essential incubator of Hong Kong’s artistic talent, and this enhanced collaboration will allow us to further support emerging artists, explore new creative possibilities, and create more diverse cultural experiences for our audiences. Together, we look forward to shaping a vibrant and sustainable future for the performing arts.”

Under the MoU, key areas of collaboration include Sustainability & Green Production, Art & Technology, Incubation & Entrepreneurship, Inclusion, Resource Sharing, and Joint Events.

The HKAPA and HKAF invite the community to stay tuned for updates on collaborative projects and events arising from this exciting partnership.

Colossus, a co-production of the HKAPA School of Dance and HKAF in 2022.

The Drunkard, a co-production of the HKAPA School of Drama and HKAF in 2026.

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (www.hkapa.edu)

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), established by The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Ordinance in 1984, is a world-leading higher education institution for the performing arts. It provides professionally-oriented undergraduate education and postgraduate studies in Chinese Opera, Dance, Drama, Film and Television, Music, and Theatre and Entertainment Arts. Its educational philosophy reflects the cultural diversity of Hong Kong with an emphasis on Chinese and Western traditions, and interdisciplinary learning. In the QS University Rankings announced in 2025, the Academy ranks in the global top 20 for Performing Arts education.

The Academy has been granted Programme Area Accreditation status by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications to award its own Certificates, Diplomas, Bachelor’s (Honours) Degrees and Master’s Degrees. In the past four decades, more than 10,000 artists have graduated from the Academy, going on to become performing artists, creative arts practitioners, filmmakers, educators and cultural leaders with global impact – many have won international awards and shone in their respective artistic fields.

Besides the main campus in Wanchai, Béthanie, the Academy’s Landmark Heritage Campus in Pokfulam, houses educational facilities for the School of Film and Television.

Media enquiries:

Ms Christi Lee

Communications Manager, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

Email: christilee@hkapa.edu / communications@hkapa.edu

Tel: 2584 8592

The Hong Kong Arts Festival (www.hk.artsfestival.org)

Launched in 1973, the Hong Kong Arts Festival is a premier arts event in the region and a major international arts festival. In February and March every year, the Festival presents 1,000 to 1,800 leading local and international artists in 120 to 200 performances of more than 40 programmes. The programmes cover all genres of the performing arts, including western opera, Chinese traditional opera, classical and contemporary music, jazz and world music, ballet, contemporary dance, theatre works in Cantonese, Putonghua, English and other foreign languages, arts tech productions, as well as a variety of multi-media works, placing equal importance on great traditions and contemporary creations. The Festival also supports local artists by commissioning and producing work in theatre, music, chamber opera and contemporary dance by Hong Kong’s own creative talents and emerging artists, many of which have subsequently had successful runs in Hong Kong and overseas.

Every year, the Festival also presents around 300 “PLUS” and educational activities that offer diverse arts experiences to the community as well as tertiary, secondary and primary school students.

In addition, through the “No Limits” project co-presented with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Festival strives to create an inclusive space for artists and audiences of different abilities to share the joy of the arts together.

For more information about the Hong Kong Arts Festival, please visit www.hk.artsfestival.org.

Media enquiries:

Ms Stephanie Cheung

Marketing Manager

Hong Kong Arts Festival

Email: stephanie.cheung@hkaf.org

Tel: 2828 4938