Overseas Training / Research Programme for Leaders from Local Arts Groups on Future Arts Development in Hong Kong – Sharing Session II Three Local Arts Leaders Sharing Their Insights

Co-organised by West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) and Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC), the Overseas Training / Research Programme for Leaders from Local Arts Groups on Future Arts Development in Hong Kong supports five local artistic and administrative leaders to conduct a research programme with overseas arts organisations, arts festivals and arts centres that could be conducive to strategic planning, audience building and overall artistic development in Hong Kong.

Five programme participants are the significant leaders in local arts scene, including Mr Sean Curran, Artistic Director of Theatre du Pif; Ms Lai Yan-chi, Mo, President of FM Theatre Power; Mr Lam Ying-kit, Even, Artistic Director of Jumbo Kids Theatre; Mr Leung Tsz-ki, Marble, Head of Programme and Education of Hong Kong Repertory Theatre and Mr Yeung Chun-kong, Daniel, renowned dance artist. Through the programme, participants are able to obtain practical skills and knowledge from their overseas counterparts and at the same time, to broaden their international network. Insights and experience gained would certainly help them contribute to the future arts development of Hong Kong and the WKCD.

Following the first sharing session hosted by Even Lam and Daniel Yeung in November 2014, the second sharing session will be held on 28 April (Tuesday) at the Fringe Club, with Sean Curran, Mo Lai and Marble Leung sharing their insights and observation gained.

Veteran theatre practitioner Sean Curran visited Canada to observe and study theatre operations, festival coordination and how these could be applied to Hong Kong arts field. Mo Lai took her visit to the US to study how the performing arts groups and artists conduct outdoor performances in communities, and how these activities connected to the public. Marble Leung exchanged thoughts and ideas, on the scope of company operation and development directions with resident companies and theatres in the UK, Germany and the US.

Following topics would be covered by the speakers in the sharing session:

• Sean Curran: How the space and environment are created to support the research and development of creative works and foster international collaboration.
• Mo Lai: Sharing on street performance policy, practice and impact.
• Marble Leung: How the operation and programming of resident company affect the theatre ecology.

Details of the Sharing Session II are as follows:

Date : 28 April 2015 (Tuesday) Time : 3:00pm – 5:30pm Venue : Fringe Dairy, Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central, Hong Kong Speakers : Mr Sean Curran, Ms Mo Lai, Mr Marble Leung Respondent : Mr Louis Yu, Executive Director, Performing Arts of WKCDA Moderator : Ms Anna CY Chan, Head, Artistic Development (Dance) of WKCDA

Simultaneous interpretation in English and Cantonese will be available. It is free admission on a first-come-first-served basis. For enquiries and registration, please visit www.hkadc.org.hk or contact Ms Zoe Wong of the HKADC at 2820 1094.

About the speakers

Sean Curran
Having been known for his perseverance and devotion in the drama scene in Hong Kong, Sean Curran, Artistic Director of theatre du pif, produced numerous impressive Chinese and English dramas in the local market throughout all these years. He conducted the research in Canada in 2013, visiting established drama companies like The Gateway Theatre and The Banff Centre, as to observe the companies’ daily operations and the coordination of the community-involved programmes. He also visited the Luminato Festival and The Montreal Jazz Festival to take reference on the execution of the large-scale festivals.

Lai Yan-chi, Mo
The versatile and awards winning movie/theatre practitioner cum the President of the local theatre company FM Theatre Power, Mo Lai has been developing her artistic capacity in various fields in the past years. Having experience of organising and practicing outdoor performance for over a decade, she still looks for resolution for further development of outdoor performance in Hong Kong context. In the research trip, she aimed at analysing the feasibility of carrying out different kinds of street performance in our home city by observing the celebrated Redmoon’s Summer Celebrations, the Great Chicago Fire Festival in Chicago, the San Francisco Mime Troupe as well as the outdoor theatre conducted by street performers in New York.

Leung Tsz-ki, Marble
Marble Leung, Head of Programme and Education of Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, has developed his career in theatre for over 20 years, and has comprehensive understanding on the operation of local theatre industry. In order to learn from successful overseas theatre companies, he has selected the well-developed theatres for residency and interviewed with representatives from Munich Theatre, Deutsche Oper in Berlin, Germany; National Theatre Studio, Gate Theatre in London, Britain; Goodman Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago; Lincoln Centre for Performing Arts, Playwrights Horizons and Manhattan Theatre Club in New York, the US.