HKADC signs Memorandum of Understanding with Gwangju Cultural Foundation

In the last 20 years, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) has been actively promoting cultural exchange. HKADC was invited earlier by the Gwangju Cultural Foundation (GCF) to discuss the possibility of cooperation. The Delegation of GCF visited Hong Kong from 20th to 23rd September to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with HKADC, aiming to promoting and strengthening mutual cultural cooperation and exchanges between the two cities.

Members of the GCF’s Delegation included Mr Seo Young-jin (Representative Director), Ms Jeong Hye-young (Manager of Arts and Culture Support Team), and Ms Park Ha-won (International Exchange Personnel). The signing ceremony of MOU was held on 21st September. With the witness of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong Consul (Culture and Public Information) Mr Yu Byung-chae, HKADC’s Chairman Dr Wong Ying-wai, Wilfred and Vice-Chairman Ms Yan Hau-yee, Lina and most of the Council members, Mr Seo Young-jin and HKADC’s Chief Executive Ms Winsome Chow signed the MOU on behalf of both parties.

Gwangju is listed in the Creative Cities Network of UNESCO. The Asian Culture Complex of the Hub City of Asian Culture, a signature project of Gwangju, has just recently opened to public. Speaking at the occasion, Dr Wong Ying-wai, Wilfred said “the HKADC’s South Korea Delegation visited Gwangju last year and the members were amazed by the rapid development of cultural ecology of the city. There is much common ground for the two parties to work together. I trust that both parties are going to have a lot of meaningful and interactive discussions on experience sharing and future cooperation in the coming years.”

During the visit in Hong Kong, the GCF’s Delegation visited a number of arts organisations including the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, West Kowloon Cultural District and the School of Creative Media of City University of Hong Kong in order to understand the arts development in Hong Kong. They have also visited exhibitions and performances presented by local artists. Mr Seo Young-jin summed up his thoughts about the visit “I could feel the enthusiasm permeated in the Hong Kong culture scene. Hong Kong and Gwangju share similar history carrying sorrow and joy of the city. Both cities try their very best to preserve the room for creative freedom. Connecting the old and new ideas, tradition and contemporary, we are both writing history through arts and culture. As Hong Kong and Gwangju are developing into the Asian art and cultural base, it is my deepest pleasure to sign the MOU with the HKADC.”

The Memorandum of Understanding will be effective for the coming four years. During this period, HKADC and GCF will facilitate reciprocal visits of representatives of both parties, encourage and facilitate exchanges between artists and arts organisations under the mutual understanding of both parties, and encourage the cooperation of both parties.