Hong Kong Arts Practitioners Participate in the Performing Arts Market in Seoul

To showcase the diversity and vibrancy of Hong Kong performing arts to overseas arts organisations and agents, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) led a delegation comprising of local arts groups and artists to take part in the Performing Arts Market in Seoul (PAMS) from 5 to 9 October 2015 for its first time with a variety of performances and an exhibition.

PAMS is one of the important arts expos for contemporary performing arts in Asia. A delegation of around 90 members, including 19 small-and-medium-sized arts groups’ representatives and individual arts practitioners funded by the HKADC, dance and music artists performed at PAMS and its extended activities, together with HKADC’s Council members, representatives of the nine major performing arts groups, Hong Kong Arts Festival and West Kowloon Cultural District Authority took part in PAMS 2015. It is hoped to establish global network with overseas arts institutions and explore performing opportunities abroad as well as accumulating experience in overseas promotion.

To mark this important occasion, a welcome dinner has been held by the HKADC on 5 October in Seoul, with the presence of Ms Hao Xiaofei, China’s envoy to South Korea; Mr Shi Ruilin, Cultural Counsellor, the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Korea; Mr Mateos Paramio, Cultural Attache of Embassy of Spain, key personnel from Australia Council for the Arts, Arts Council Korea, and representatives from overseas arts festival and arts agents around the world.

Also joining the dinner included HKADC’s Chairman Dr Wong Ying-wai, Wilfred; Vice Chairman Ms Yan Hau-yee, Lina; Ms Chung Siu-mui, Ribble, Chairman of the HKADC’s Arts Promotion Committee; Council Members Mr Henry Chan, Mr K B Chan, Ms Caroline Cheng and Chief Executive Ms Winsome Chow; as well as performing units from Hong Kong during PAMS and members of the Hong Kong delegation.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr Wong Ying-wai, Wilfred said, through the participation in PAMS, the HKADC aimed to present the best of our Hong Kong artists on the international arts arena and to help them establish networks with overseas counterparts for future exchange and collaboration, as well as broaden their artistic horizon.

This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. The HKADC will continue to strive for more opportunities for local artists and arts groups, Dr Wong added.

Major participations of HKADC in PAMS 2015 include:

- Local choreographer Victor Fung performed his work From The Top in the afternoon of 6 October during “PAMS International Showcase – HK Performance”. The witty dance work explored the power relations between performers and dance makers, demonstrating the uniqueness and diversity of dance in Hong Kong.

- The PAMS Night – HK was hosted by the HKADC at the same night on 6 October, with more than 150 participants from different regions attended. During the occasion, local sound artist Samson Young performed Nocturne, recreating the sound of war and the sound effects were broadcast onsite to the audience with handheld radios. Yat Po Singers performed Rock Hard (excerpt), an a cappella choral theatre capturing the history and folklore of Hong Kong from a refreshing perspective while fusion band SIU 2 performed Sonic Travelogue using Chinese and Western musical instruments, bringing audiences to a musical tapestry flows seamlessly between the East and West, the past and the present. PAMS Night – HK is supported by Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) of the HKSAR Government.

- Participants also took part in a series of performances, focus sessions, roundtable meetings, talks and networking activities held during PAMS. A booth exhibition has been set up by the HKADC to promote Hong Kong performing arts. Local Performing Arts Directory was distributed to introduce the artistic and cultural characteristics and the works of local performing arts groups and artists.

A series of extension arts events has been held during PAMS with different themes. It included: -

- Choreographers Rebecca Wong and Mayson Tong performed their works Women.Body and The Great Wall of Memories respectively at the 6^th Busan International Dance Market on 4 October.

- Other local choreographers are also invited to perform their works at the 18^th Seoul International Dance Festival. They are: -

• Justyne Li and Wong Tan-ki performed Galatea X on 8 October, a dance that expresses the powerful representation of dynamics between an artist (the sculptor) and a product (the sculpture).
• Choreographer Li De performed Here Is It, showcasing youth and freedom on the stage on the same night.
• Choreographer Wayson Poon has joined an Artist-in-Residence programme in Seoul. He performed with dancers from all over the world in the dance festival’s〈Asia Superposition Showcase〉session on 7 and 8 October.

About PAMS (Performing Arts Markets in Seoul) 2015
Since 2005, PAMS has been held annually in Seoul, Korea during October as an important arts expo for contemporary performing arts in Asia. It attracts more than 1,500 performing arts professionals and arts agencies from all over the world every year. Organised by Korea Arts Management Service, PAMS strives to provide a platform for networking and exchange of artistic visions, the latest trends of performing arts between arts practitioners from Korea and abroad. It also facilitates creations and productions of performing artworks and their promotion abroad. Apart from performances, symposiums, talks and networking activities, a series of extension arts events will also be held during PAMS. They include Seoul Performing Arts Festival, Seoul International Dance Festival, MU:CON, Busan International Film Festival, Busan International Dance Market and Gwangju Biennale.

More information of PAMS 2015 is available at the website http://pams.or.kr.