Eleven Local Arts Administrators Awarded Overseas Training Opportunities in 2018/19

To foster professional growth of local arts administrators and facilitate long-term development of arts and culture in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) collaborates with eight world acclaimed arts and cultural organisations to organise attachment and training programmes. The programmes provide a range of overseas attachment and exchange opportunities for promising local arts administrators to develop their professional skills and international network.

The programme partners include Adelaide Festival Centre of Australia, Mori Art Museum of Japan, University of Deusto of Spain, Clore Leadership Programme, Dance Base, Edinburgh and Tate Modern of the United Kingdom, International Society for the Performing Arts and National Arts Strategies of the USA. Eleven local arts administrators have been awarded.

(1) Australia - “Professional Attachment at OzAsia Festival 2018”

The awardee, Ms Li Wai-mei, undertook a 22-week attachment on a full-time basis from June to November 2018 at the Adelaide Festival Centre. She mainly participated in festival coordination and programming, production, media marketing and promotion of the OzAsia Festival 2018.

Ms Li was the former Program Manager of Renaissance Foundation, responsible for planning and coordinating a wide variety of independent arts programmes and overseas performances, as well as developing strategic partnerships. Her past portfolio included“Ear Up Music Global Program”, “International Music Industry Forums” and “The Inspired Island II: Literature Film Festival”. Prior to joining the Renaissance Foundation, Ms Li was the Arts Administrator Trainee in the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Strategic Outreach Officer of Soundpocket.

(2) Japan - “Professional Attachment at Mori Art Museum 2018”

Ms Cheung Ting-ting, Ruth was awarded to take part in a 24-week attachment on a full-time basis from May to November 2018 at the Mori Art Museum. She mainly took part in curatorial research, exhibition programming and project coordination in the Museum.

Ms Cheung was the former Programme Officer of Hong Kong Baptist University, managing and curating the “Through Our Eyes” Photography Education Programme organised by kaitak Research and Development Centre. She also coordinated a number of cultural projects such as “Kwu Tung School” and “Folding/ Unfolding: Mobile Photography Exhibition” etc. Prior to joining the Hong Kong Baptist University, Ms Cheung was the Programme Officer of Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre and the Project Administrator of Sabrina Fung Fine Arts.

(3) Spain & USA - “Hong Kong Scholarships on the International Leadership Program in Visual Arts Management (ILPVAM) 2018”

The two awardees were Mr Tse Ming-chong and Ms Wu Pui-shan, Apo. They attended two intensive modules of the ILPVAM in Bilbao, Spain and New York, United States in March and June 2018 respectively. The Programme aims to develop participants’ understanding of the latest global trends shaping the industry and sharpen skills in the management of visual arts organisations.

Mr Tse Ming-chong is the Founder and Chairperson of Lumenvisum, and the Department Head and Principal Lecturer of Design Foundation Studies at the Hong Kong Design Institute. Mr Tse is devoted to promote photography through organising various exhibitions and community projects. His recent curatorial projects include “Hong Kong Contemporary Photography 2016” and “Duo Ends – A Conversation-Exhibition by Francis Yu & Jamsen Law” in 2018.

Working as the Assistant Curator I at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Ms Wu Pui-shan, Apo is responsible for extension programmes. She has developed the design collection and curated related exhibitions in the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. Her past portfolio includes “Hong Kong International Poster Triennial”, “PICASSO - Masterpieces from Musée National Picasso, Paris” and “Fashion + Paper, Scissors and Rock”.

(4) United Kingdom - “Hong Kong Scholarship on the Clore Leadership Programme 2018/19”

Ms Cheng Hei-yee, Meggy and Ms Ying Kwok have been awarded to participate in two customised intensive training workshop series of the Clore Leadership Programme in September 2018 and June 2019 respectively. Each of them will undertake a secondment for a period of about eight weeks in cultural institution during their stay, where they will have the opportunities to meet a wide range of cultural leaders in the United Kingdom.

Ms Cheng Hei-yee, Meggy is currently the Director of Marketing at the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Possessing over 13 years of marketing experience, both in the commercial and arts sectors. Ms Cheng managed marketing and communications for global brands including Procter & Gamble (Greater China) and McDonald’s (Hong Kong). Prior to joining the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, she was the Head of Marketing and Communications at Chung Ying Theatre Company.

Ms Ying Kwok has been an independent curator curating various international arts exhibitions since 2013, such as “Samson Young: Songs for Disaster Relief” in Hong Kong exhibition at the 57th Venice Biennale, LOOK/17 International Photography Festival in Liverpool, and co-curated "Harmonious Society" at Asia Triennial Manchester 2014. In 2014, Ms Kwok co-founded the Art Appraisal Club with a group of local arts professionals to develop local arts critic and encourage critical thinking in Hong Kong.

(5) United Kingdom - “Professional Attachment at Dance Base, Edinburgh”

Two awardees -- Ms Chung Man-ting, Mandy and Ms Ho Ka-lo, Carrol completed their 10-week attachment from June to early-September 2018 at Dance Base. They actively participated in the areas of programme management and production under the supervision of senior members at Dance Base. The two awardees also had the valuable opportunities to visit other cultural institutes and artists to learn about the arts development in the United Kingdom.

Ms Chung Man-ting, Mandy currently works as Music Administrative Officer at Diocesan Girls’ Junior School to coordinate both inter-space and intra-school music performances and activities. She was the Education and Outreach Manager of Association Culturelle France Hong Kong Ltd. to oversee and organise the educational and outreach programmes of Le French May Arts Festival and Lumieres Hong Kong while she also actively reached out and promoted arts education in different organisations and schools.

Being an independent producer, Ms Ho Ka-lo, Carrol has established KALOS Productions HK to produce and coordinate dance projects, festivals and overseas touring since 2014. Her recent collaborations include Victor Fung’s “When I grow up” at New Vision Arts Festival 2018, “Untitled III” by Wayson Poon and “Water Lilies” by Ivy Tsui. Ms Ho has awarded the HKADC Overseas Arts Administration Scholarship to pursue her Master of Arts in Culture, Policy and Management in City University London from 2015-2016.

(6) United Kingdom - “Hong Kong Scholarship for Professional Attachment to Public Programmes at Tate Modern 2019”

Ms Ng Yik-kwan, Niki has set off to start her 22-week professional attachment on a full-time basis this February in the Public Programme Team at Learning Department of Tate Modern. With the opportunity to further develop her professional skills, she contributes to the development, planning, delivery and evaluation of cross-site public programmes of Tate Modern and Tate Britain and the strategic partnerships initiative.

Ms Ng is currently the Senior Programme Officer (Audience Building) at Hong Kong Arts Centre. She is responsible for curating the learning and outreach programmes with a focus on visual arts and performing arts, as well as developing and implementing cross-disciplinary arts projects, such as “Cultural Masseur” in 2016-2018; “Dragonix Multi-Arts Festival” and “Harbour Arts Sculpture Park” in 2018. She is also involved in formulating and conducting pedagogical research of audience development plans. Ms Ng has interned at the Hong Kong Exhibition of the 57th Venice Biennale, supported by HKADC and M+, in late-2017.

(7) USA - “Hong Kong Fellowship at International Society for the Performing Arts 2019”

Ms Chung Anca Yun-kay is awarded a three-year Hong Kong Fellowship to take part in the ISPA New York Congresses and Seminar Days from 2019 to 2021. She will engage in the development and exchange of ideas with overseas counterparts, with a view to strengthening international network and enhancing professional knowledge.

Ms Chung is the Head of Performing Arts of Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation, responsible for the artistic planning and producing of multi-art form programmes for young people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Prior to joining the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation, Ms Chung was engaged in arts marketing at London’s Young Vic Theatre and the Southbank Centre.

(8) USA - “Hong Kong Scholarship for National Arts Strategies (NAS)– Executive Program in Arts & Culture Strategy 2019”

The awardee is Ms Lin Yik-ling, Elaine. Ms Lin pursues the Executive Program in Arts & Culture Strategy, a comprehensive training in arts management designed by the NAS and the University of Pennsylvania. Apart from the online courses, she will attend two in-person conferences to network with arts professional around the world at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia in March and September 2019 respectively.

Ms Lin has joined the Asia Arts Archive (AAA) since 2012 and is currently the Collection Manager. She is responsible for establishing and implementing the AAA's collection policies. Ms Lin has led and developed numerous collecting and digitisation initiatives surrounding recent arts in Asia, in collaboration with researchers, art professionals, and institutional partners in the region and beyond.

With the funding support from the Home Affairs Bureau, the aforementioned programmes aim to strengthen the training of local arts administrators, to nurture more arts and cultural leaders and respond to the demand for such in our community.