The Hong Kong Arts Development Council (ADC) announces today the launch of the Hong Kong Arts Development Awards 2007, with an aim to give formal recognition to accomplished arts practitioners and groups, and organisations that have made significant contribution to the arts development in Hong Kong. Through this award scheme, the ADC also hopes to enhance the social status of arts practitioners.

The award scheme is categorised into Honorary Award, Award for Arts Achievement, Award for Outstanding Young Artist, Award for Arts Education, Award for Arts Promotion and Award for Arts Sponsorship.

Honorary Award aims to recognise the continued contribution of Hong Kong arts masters, and whose achievements are widely acknowledged by the arts community. Awardees will be nominated by the ADC's Council Members and arts advisors, and final election by the Council. Other awards are open for application or nomination.

Award for Arts Achievement and Award for Outstanding Young Artist are categorised according to different artforms. For the latter one, candidates must be under 40. Besides receiving a trophy for recognition, each awardee of the Award for Outstanding Young Artist will receive a cash award of $20,000 for further studies or organising an arts activity.

Award for Arts Education is to recognise schools, organisations and arts practitioners who have distinguished achievement in promoting arts education. It is categorised into school and non-school, with one award for each category. Award for Arts Promotion aims to acknowledge the achievements of group/organisation in arts promotion and only one award is given. For the Award for Arts Sponsorship, awards will be given to individuals/organisations for their contribution/sponsorship to the arts community.

For details of each award, please refer to the ADC's web site www.hkadc.org.hk.

A chief adjudication panel and advisory panels are set up to carry out the assessment. Different advisory panels will be formed for the various awards except the Honorary Award.

A nine-member strong Chief Adjudication Panel comprising social elites, scholars, local and overseas arts veterans is formed. They are Mr Ma Fung-kwok, Chairman of the ADC (ex-officio member); Dr Darwin Chen, Chairman of Committee on Performing Arts; Mr Chung King-fai, Chairman of Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies; The Hon Fok Tsun-ting, Timothy, Legislative Councillor; Prof Lee Chack-fan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong; Mr Lin Ke-huan, Honorary President of Chinese Theatre Literature Association; Prof Lo King-man, Director of Administration of Canton International Summer Music Academy; Prof Ma Lin, Chairman of Board of Trustees, Shaw College of the Chinese University of Hong Kong; and Mr Rong Guang-run, Professor of Shanghai Theatre Academy.

From tomorrow onwards, the Hong Kong Arts Development Awards 2007 will be open for application/nomination. Interested parties can obtain the application brief and enrolment form from the ADC's Administrative Office, 22/F, 181 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong or download it from the web site www.hkadc.org.hk. For enquiries, please contact Ms Ku at 2820 1033.

Deadline for application/nomination is 6:30 pm on 16 April 2007 (Monday). The award presentation ceremony is scheduled to be held at the end of this year.

The ADC organised its first award scheme in 2003 to confer awards on distinguished artists, outstanding young talents and organisation for their achievement and contribution to the arts development in Hong Kong.