Arts-in-Education 2001/02 Award Presentation cum Exhibition
Speech by Mr Darwin Chen, Chairman of Hong Kong Arts Development Council
Date: January 25, 2003
Venue: Jockey Club Auditorium, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Ms Teresa Au, Dr Chan Ka Ki, Professor Kindler, Dr Cheung Ping Kuen, principals, teachers, students and friends of the arts community:

For most people, arts education is little more than a kind of extra-curricular activity that teaches students to act, sing and dance. Today, however, we have hundreds of teachers and students from 16 schools, artists and arts organisations to show you how arts can turn itself into a teaching medium to help cultivate students' creativity, imagination and learning abilities. Using arts to teach is what we often describe as the social function of the arts.

To develop the social function of the arts and promote the development of arts education in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council launched the Artists-in-Schools Programme in 1997/98. The aim of the three-year programme was to stimulate and develop students' creativity and learning abilities through a variety of arts activities, thus bringing arts formally into the schools. Received with great success, the programme was able to induce some schools to increase hours of classes to facilitate students participating in arts activities.

My special thanks must go to the Hongkong Bank Foundation for a HK$4.2 million donation and the dedicated support from the Education and Manpower Bureau (the then Education Department). Without their support, the programme would not have proved so successful.

This initial success boosts our confidence to extend further the promotion of arts education. Not only do we aim at bringing arts into schools, but also directly into the classrooms, to integrate arts with the formal curriculum. In using arts as a teaching medium, students can enjoy a new learning approach.

In 2000/01, the Arts-in-Education programme was launched. To familiarise the participating schools and artists with the necessary know-how in implementing arts-in-education, a series of sharing session and workshop were organised in the first year. During its second year, the scheme was successfully launched in schools with over 2,000 students and teachers participating.

Today, we will have the chance to share the joy of their harvest. It will be a valuable opportunity for schools and artists who will take part in this year's programme.

The success of the Arts-in-Education programme is due to the support of The Education and Manpower Bureau and The Hong Kong Institute of Education, as well as the sponsorship from The Hongkong Bank Foundation. They have sponsored $4 million for the three-year programme. With their support, schools and students can experience an innovative learning approach. Special thanks must also go to Dr. Cheung Ping Kuen, Chairman of the Arts-in-Education Steering Committee. He has devoted his valuable experience and effort in ensuring the smooth implementation of the programme.

Needless to say, the key to the success of the programme is the support from the principals and teachers of participating schools, and of course the arts practitioners who are devoted to the development of arts education.

Last but not least, I hope you all, both old and new, will continue to act as pioneers in promoting the "Arts-in-Education" programme and contribute to the development of an innovative learning approach for the 21st century, creating a favourable learning environment for the younger generation. Thank you.