The 51st Hong Kong Arts Festival opened today with Ballet of Slovene National Theatre Maribor performing Radio and Juliet & Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring)
(Hong Kong, 17 February 2023)The 51st Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF) officially opened today (17 February) with the Ballet of Slovene National Theatre Maribor performing Radio and Juliet & Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring), which is sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. The Festival’s opening ceremony was held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre with The Honourable John KC Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Mr Victor Cha, Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival; The Hon Martin Liao, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Mr Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr Vincent Liu Ming-kwong, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services; and Ms Flora Yu, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival, officiating. The Festival Opening Performance is sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.
This year, the HKAF is pleased to welcome back to the Festival stage acclaimed international and local artists in more than 40 programmes, across 110 performances, as well as more than 300 outreach events, bringing the arts into the community, including special events for Young Friends, educational activities for students from primary and secondary schools as well as tertiary institutions, and “PLUS” events for the general public, enriching audience experiences beyond the stage.The theme of the 51st Hong Kong Arts Festival is “Coming Back, Moving Forward”, symbolising the Festival, artists and audiences physically gathering together again to celebrate the performing arts. The Festival welcomes returning artists who have formerly graced its stages; and through new works, special curations and cross-disciplinary collaborations, the Festival explores the endless possibilities of the arts for innovation, while honouring the legacy of great masters.Tickets to the Hong Kong Arts Festival programmes can be purchased at URBTIX outlets (online at www.urbtix.hk, by phone at (852) 3166 1288, or at URBTIX outlets. Tickets to performances at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts will also be available through HK Ticketing, while tickets to performances at Freespace are available through the West Kowloon Cultural District Ticket Office.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTThe 51st HKAF is most grateful to its many sponsors, the main ones being: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, ICBC (Asia), China Everbright Bank Co., Ltd., Hong Kong Branch, HKR International, Industrial Bank Co. Ltd. Hong Kong Branch, Primasia Foundation, Shun Hing Group, and Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund; Official Premium Car Partner DCH Mobility, Official Airline Finnair; Official Outdoor Media Partner POADmedia Limited; Official Video Technology Partner TFI Digital Media Limited; Gala Dinner Catering Support Sino Group; and Major Hotel Partner Grand Hyatt Hong Kong.ABOUT THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVALLaunched in 1973, the Hong Kong Arts Festival is a major international arts festival committed to enriching the cultural life of the city. In February and March every year the Festival presents leading local and international artists from all genres of the performing arts, giving equal importance to great traditions and contemporary creations. The Festival also commissions and produces works 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 more than 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 people with different abilities to share the joy of the arts together.For more information about the Hong Kong Arts Festival, please visit hk.artsfestival.org.
MEDIA ENQUIRIESFor further enquiries, please contact:• Ms Katy Cheng (Marketing Director): (852) 2828 4930 / katy.cheng@hkaf.org• Ms Tobie Chan (Chinese Opera, Theatre and Dance): (852) 2828 4931 / tobie.chan@hkaf.org• Ms Stephanie Cheung and Ms Sally Hui (Music, Opera and Musical): (852) 2828 4938 / (852) 2828 4934 / stephanie.cheung@hkaf.org / sally.hui@hkaf.org
Officiating Guests at the Opening Ceremony of the 51st Hong Kong Arts Festival on 17 February included: (Front Row from Left to right) Mr Vincent Liu, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services; the Honourable Martin Liao, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; the Honourable John KC Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Mr Victor Cha, Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival; Mr Kevin Yeung, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Ms Flora Yu, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival.Hong Kong Arts Festival Executive Committee Members present at the Opening Ceremony included: (back row from left) Mr Michael Fung, Dr Dennis Sun, Ms Margaret Cheng, Prof Kingman Lo, Mr Colin Farrell, Mr Sebastian Man, Mrs Betty Yuen Cheng and Ms Joanna Hotung.
Mr Victor Cha, Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival, gives a welcoming speech
The Honourable John KC Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, gives a speech at the Opening Ceremony