Hong Kong Arts Development Council presents JOCKEY CLUB New Arts Power

(Hong Kong, 12 September 2017) Presented by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust (The Trust), JOCKEY CLUB New Arts Power was officially launched at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre today.

After over 40 years of development and growth in Hong Kong, our arts sector has nurtured several generations of artists. Many arts talents of the new generation are now in their prime time of creation. They are no longer confined to the city of Hong Kong. Their displays overseas have gained wide international acclaim. They not only contribute to the Hong Kong arts scene but have also brought much pride to our city. In the light of the arts development, HKADC has been actively promoting local arts overseas in recent years, introducing outstanding Hong Kong artists to the global arts scene and helping these artists to reach new heights. That includes facilitating artists to participate in overseas arts events, showcasing outstanding Hong Kong artists and their works and, at the same time, enabling them to broaden their horizon, connect with international peers and stimulate their creativity.

With the generous support from The Trust, HKADC inaugurates a new platform JOCKEY CLUB New Arts Power, showcasing 18 Hong Kong’s most internationally celebrated artists and performance groups and their works, bringing their excellence back to their home city and facilitating the Hong Kong community to appreciate their creativity and artistry, and to embrace them as representatives of Hong Kong. The initiative shares the same goal with the Trust that has announced a new area of strategic focus “Arts, Culture and Heritage” of their charities, which helps build a culturally vibrant Hong Kong and promoting social inclusion.

In the coming 5 months, the general public can enjoy remarkable programmes in five major art forms – modern dance, music, theatre performances, media arts and visual arts. JOCKEY CLUB New Arts Power let arts penetrate into every corner of our city. HKADC has joined hands with the participating artists to bring 160 diverse events to the public, including open rehearsals, forums sharing sessions, workshops, community and school programmes, 19 ticketed performances, as well as two exhibitions featuring ceramic art and media art. The platform offers outstanding local works of arts to the community, encouraging participation from each and every Hong Kong citizen. It aims to increase public awareness and appreciation of the most seasoned local artists and to instill identity and pride of having these talents.

“I am very glad that “Arts, Culture and Heritage” is one of the four charities strategic focus of the Trust……Sharing the same goal of promoting arts and culture, HKADC and the Trust have joined hands together to build a new platform JOCKEY CLUB New Arts Power supporting artists to make their return showcases in Hong Kong. We hope that the Hong Kong society will learn and appreciate more about the new arts power. Arts returns to our lives, and life enriches arts.” said Dr Wong Ying-wai, Wilfred, Chairman of HKADC. 

“The Club strives to address social needs by putting emphasis on four areas of strategic focus including arts, culture and heritage,” said The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung. “Under this programme, we hope that the ‘new arts power’ will be able to share their masterpieces with the public and accumulate skills and experiences throughout the process. By building their capacities in managing, promoting and optimising artistic creations, local artists will be able to go further and benefit more local citizens from all walks of life, especially young people.” said Mr Leong Cheung, Executive Director, Charities and Community of The Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Mr Lau Kong-wah, Secretary for Home Affairs, officiated the launch of JOCKEY CLUB New Arts Power today, and experienced a preview performance of choreographer Hugh Cho’s latest work and a sneak peek of the mobile theatre truck Cinematic Theatre created for their production My Luxurious 50 sqft Life. From today onwards, an exciting programme of free performances will run across Hong Kong’s districts, including 18 mobile theatre performances in public spaces, and “Mobile Showcase” sessions that bring performances to local communities with highlights including Hugh Cho’s Tricker’ Treat, a cappella performance by Yat Po Singers and outdoor gig Shall we busk by Jabin Law & Jing Wong.

A school and outreach programme will take five acts to schools across the city, exposing the next generation of Hong Kongers to the magical world of creativity in dance, theatre and music. The acts are My Luxurious 50 sqft Life, Seven Boxes Possessed of Kafka, Dance On: Contemporary Dance Theatre, Yat Po Singers’ Rock Hard as well as SIU2’s A Musical Odyssey Beyond Time.

Tickets for the 19 arts showcases under JOCKEY CLUB New Arts Power are now available online at URBTIX and CityLine. For more information, please visit http://newartspower.hk/.

For updates about JOCKEY CLUB New Arts Power, please visit: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newartspower/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newartspower/