HKADC “Eminent Arts Group Scheme” and 2019/20 “Year Grant Scheme”

The Hong Kong arts sector has been thriving in recent years. To better meet with the current development needs of various arts forms and further nurture the growth of local professional arts organisations and artists, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) launches a new independent platform “Eminent Arts Group Scheme” and a simplified 2019/20 “Year Grant Scheme” today.

New Independent Platform “Eminent Arts Group Scheme”
HKADC has successfully raised matching fund from the “Art Development Matching Grants Scheme” of the Home Affairs Bureau with the sponsorships raised from non-government and social organisations as well as the commercial sector. The funds raised are reserved in the HKADC’s Trust^# which now injects funding to provide for a new “Eminent Arts Group Scheme”. Through this Scheme, HKADC hopes to further cultivate the development of local professional arts organisations and artists and to encourage them to actively seek support from other resources and society to enhance their independence and competitiveness. The Scheme expects to support a five-year development of around 3 distinguished arts organisations, with grant period from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2024, to allow these organisations to focus on sustainable and steady arts development. The “Eminent Arts Group Scheme” is a one-off independent scheme. In the coming years, HKADC will review the effectiveness of the Scheme and in light of the reserve of funds held by the Trust, to decide whether to continue the Scheme after 5 years.

The maximum amount of grant under the “Eminent Arts Group Scheme” is HK$2,200,000 per annum, supporting the general administrative expenses and expenses in relation to specific activities of the year (if applicable). To drive the arts organisations under the Scheme to explore different resources, the level of grant will be decreased by 2% each year after the first year. All eligible music, dance, xiqu, drama, visual arts, multi-disciplinary arts, film, media arts and literary arts organisations resident in Hong Kong may apply for the “Eminent Arts Group Scheme”.

2019/20 “Year Grant Scheme”
The “Year Grant Scheme” aims to support the operation and production needs of outstanding professional arts organisations or representative groups in different art forms and assist their development to their full potential. HKADC hopes the simplified 2019/20 “Year Grant Scheme” can enhance the mobility and flexibility of arts organisations receiving the “Year Grant” and will be able to support more emerging arts organisations with potential and outstanding performances in Hong Kong. All eligible music, dance, xiqu, drama, visual arts, multi-disciplinary arts, film and media arts organisations resident in Hong Kong may apply for the 2019/20 “Year Grant Scheme”. Highlights of the revision are as follows:

1. Changing the grant period to 1 year or 3 years HKADC has simplified the “Year Grant Scheme” from 2019/20 by cancelling the “Two-Year Grant” and changing the grant period to 1 year or 3 years. Grant period of the “One-Year Grant” will be from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020 and that of the “Three-Year Grant” will be from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2022.
2. Adjusting the upper limit of the grant amount Grant amount of “Operational Expenses Grant” for the “One-Year Grant” will be within HK$300,000 to $1,000,000 and that for the “Three-Year Grant” will be within HK$300,000 to $2,000,000.
3. Relaxing the eligibility criteria Starting from 2019/20, the “Year Grant Scheme” will no longer operate under the model of “Grant Promotion”, in which all eligible arts organisations can apply for the “One-Year Grant”/“Three-Year Grant”.

Interested parties are advised to refer to the Application Conditions and Forms of the two Schemes which can be obtained from the HKADC Administration Office (10/F, 1063 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong) or the HKADC website: www.hkadc.org.hk. Completed applications must be deposited in the collection box at the HKADC Administration Office before 6:00pm on 14 January 2019 (Monday). *Please mark “Eminent Arts Group Scheme” and/or “Year Grant Scheme” on the envelope. Applications submitted by post must be postmarked on or before the deadline. Late submission or submission by fax, email, other electronic means and postal applications with insufficient postage will not be processed.

For enquiries, please contact Ms. Chung of HKADC at 2820 1060 or [email protected] .

#  Hong Kong Arts Development Fund
* “Eminent Arts Group Scheme” and “Year Grant Scheme” should be marked and submitted separately in sealed envelopes.