In light of the needs of the arts community and society as a whole, we are committed to formulate unequivocal development strategies to create a favourable environment conducive to artistic pursuits. Besides the two retreats held in the beginning of this Council term, an interim one was held earlier in September 2006 to review our work and draw specific strategies for future development.

Revitalisation and Cultivation

With the adoption of the recommendation of the Committee on Performing Arts, six recipients of the Three-Year Grant began receiving direct funding from the government starting 1 April 2007. The historical mission of the ADC to support major arts groups had thus come to an end and there is a need to review the years-long funding policy to keep in line with the growing needs of the arts community. After thorough discussion and analysis, we decided to review our existing grant system to increase support for local emerging artists and small-to-medium sized arts groups for professional development. After intense lobbying, we were eventually able to secure additional resources from the government to enhance our existing grant system during the coming year. New initiatives will be introduced to strengthen our support for potential emerging artists and small-to-medium sized arts groups.

Apart from funding support, we have organised a wide range of activities with the aim of forging professional development of young arts practitioners and arts groups. To nurture talents, the ADC joined forces with the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society for two consecutive years in hosting the Fresh Wave Short Film Competition to discover and nurture young creative talents in film-making. Through the competition, training and guidance with regard to creativity, directing and scriptwriting were given to participants in enhancing their practical skills and product quality.

To improve the administration skills of the arts community, our Arts Service Centre hosted a series of seminars and workshops with local, mainland and overseas experts to share their experience with young arts practitioners and arts groups in Hong Kong.

Broadening Horizon and Booming Market

In addition, we also broaden our vision by looking into the local as well as overseas arts scenes and demonstrating the strength of Hong Kong arts. Following a fruitful debut last year in the 2nd China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industry Fair (ICIF), we joined the 3rd ICIF again to introduce the current arts and cultural development in Hong Kong to our mainland counterparts.

To broaden the knowledge of local arts groups on the mainland arts market, we led a delegation of 12 arts groups in December 2006 to six cities of the Pearl River Delta region where we visited major cultural facilities and met with cultural bodies to learn how their performing arts market operates. Furthermore, we commissioned the Centre for Cultural Policy Research of the University of Hong Kong to research between August 2005 and November 2006 on cultural exchange between Hong Kong performing arts groups and their counterparts in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou. It was found that communication and mutual understanding should be enhanced. The report makes concrete and specific recommendations with regard to the four aspects of policy and system, personnel training, finance and promotion.

The booming mainland economy has offered ample opportunities for local arts groups to perform in the Mainland cities. The Signing of Supplement IV to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) in June 2007 has further facilitated local arts groups to perform in the Mainland. Looking ahead, we will take an active role in maintaining close ties with the relevant cultural bodies and groups, in collecting mainland market information and in providing funding support for cultural exchange between Hong Kong arts groups and mainland counterparts.

Strategic participation in the international arts arena helps in securing Hong Kong's position. In recent years, we have been taking part in the International Art Exhibition: La Biennale di Venezia. Besides, September 2006 saw the first time the ADC teamed up with the Hong Kong Institute of Architects to participate in the 10th International Architecture Exhibition at the Venice Biennale and presented to the world the distinct city of Hong Kong together with its outstanding architecture.

Tapping Social Resources and Promoting Arts

Public participation is crucial to arts promotion. To mobilise social resources, we took an active role in co-operating with a wide cross-section of the society to explore development opportunities and provide new arts appreciation experience to the public. The Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre is an impressive example of joint effort in opening up a new area of arts development. For arts to be incorporated into the community, the ADC joined hands for the first time with the Hong Kong Chaoren Shamshuipo Clans Association Limited, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Dragon Centre Management Limited in organising the Dragon Centre Arts Festival in Shamshuipo. During the Chinese New Year, a range of cultural arts activities were staged in the Dragon Centre for the benefit and enjoyment of the public.

During the year, Arts Unlimited Ill, another co-production of the ADC and Radio Television Hong Kong was
completed. It is a 10-episode television programme on arts education. We also joined hands with the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation to hold the Creative Train Design Competition, a fringe activity of the television programme, inviting young and creative minds to decorate the East Rail and West Rail trains and their compartments. In an attempt to let the public know more about the work of ADC and the local arts community, the ADC launched in collaboration with a local arts magazine, am post, a new feature, Connecting Arts, on information and news of local arts.

Looking Ahead

With the Council completing its term of office, we are grateful that both our members and staff have been proactive and supportive in the various aspects of nurturing new talents, assisting the professional development of arts groups, tapping venue resources, promoting arts and fostering cultural exchange, thus making remarkable achievements. Other schemes in relation to establishing a cultural arts development fund, setting up street billboards in the city, as well as launching arts magazines have begun to bear fruit.

This year, we are introducing the Hong Kong Arts Development Awards 2007 to acclaim outstanding arts practitioners, arts groups and organisations for their contribution to local arts. By enhancing social recognition of the award, it is also hoped that the accomplishment of local artists will be recognised. We sincerely wish that the award programme will become a regular scheme with established social status.

Ma Fung-kwok, SBS, JP
Chairman, Hong Kong Arts Development Council