Since the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, Hong Kong's cultural and artistic industry has ushered in severe challenges, in the past two years, in response to the arrangements for epidemic prevention and control work such as social distancing measures, various cultural activities have been postponed or cancelled, and the export of cultural and artistic creation and other industries has faced market pressure, and the cultural ecosystem has been struggling for a while.
In response to the impact of the epidemic, all walks of life need to regain confidence, accurate positioning, and grasp the initiative of development. In addition to launching a number of funding schemes, the relevant departments and art institutions of the HKSAR Government have taken the opportunity to transit the "crisis" of the "new normal" of epidemic prevention and control, and have also innovatively used the Internet, digital media and other technical means to explore new models of art development and consolidate Hong Kong's position as an emerging art and cultural hub in Asia.
Hong Kong's West Kowloon Cultural District is the newest and largest arts and cultural stronghold in Hong Kong. Courtesy of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority of Hong Kong
Multiple measures to reshape the advantages of the activation of cultural and creative engines
"Hong Kong is a centre for cultural and artistic exchanges between China and foreign countries, and the HKSAR Government continues to invest resources to upgrade existing art and cultural hardware and build new facilities, such as the M+ Museum and the upcoming Opening of the Hong Kong Palace Museum of Culture, while the renovated and expanded Hong Kong Museum of Art will become a new cultural landmark in Victoria Harbour." Chow Wai-hsin, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, said, "Due to the impact of the epidemic, many venues need to be closed, and the development of culture and the arts is facing challenges such as market reduction and fewer consumers at home and abroad. ”
In order to boost confidence in the development of the cultural and arts industry and rebuild its own advantages, from 2020 onwards, the HKSAR Government will launch the "Arts and Culture Sector Subsidy Scheme" in the "Anti-epidemic Fund" to subsidize different art groups and individual artists, and reduce the rent of existing art studios by 75% in the new phase of the scheme.
The Hong Kong Arts Development Council ("HKADB") has cooperated with the HKSAR Government in implementing the Arts and Culture Support Scheme. Chow said the scheme has supported more than 600 cultural and artistic activities affected by the closure of the venue and nearly 5,000 artists, helping the industry to accumulate strength to start again.
Apart from supporting the development of the industry through the funding scheme, the HKEDA has also taken advantage of the "gap period" of the epidemic to strengthen the construction of professional talents, set up the "Arts Administration Scholarship 2022", and provided a number of training programmes for local arts administrators to cultivate more talents, enhance the professional level of the industry, promote the sustainable development of the arts, and bring more outstanding works to the community.
In terms of promoting the development of cultural and creative industries, Creative Hong Kong under the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the HKSAR Government supports more than 600 projects, including the design industry, through the Creative Excellence Scheme, to nurture talents and promote the development of start-ups.
According to the staff of Creative Hong Kong, Creative Hong Kong pays close attention to the economic benefits and market expansion of the industry, and supports the industry to enhance its competitiveness through various programs. At the end of 2021, Creative Hong Kong organized a delegation to hold a travelling exhibition in mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area to showcase the works and creative thinking of Hong Kong's creative industries and promote cross-regional and cross-border exchanges and cooperation.
Referring to the personal development of art practitioners Chinese the epidemic, Zhou Huixin said, "Hong Kong is an international window open to the outside world and has the unique advantage of cultural integration between China and foreign countries, and we hope that Hong Kong cultural and art practitioners, especially young people, will make good use of various supports, seize opportunities, seek innovation in change, exert their vitality and creativity, and open up a new path for cultural and artistic development." ”
Innovative integration of digital media art Explores diversified interactive spaces
Art Basel Virtual Showroom, Hong Kong Arts Festival Online Performance, NFT Digital Art Trading... In recent years, art and digital technology have become a new trend in the development of culture and art, and science and technology have injected new inspiration and nutrients into artistic creation and expression forms, prompting art creators and designers to rethink under the "new normal", break through the inherent framework, and bring more possibilities to the audience with multi-dimensional, diverse and diverse experiences.
As a new landmark of the West Kowloon Cultural District, the Hong Kong M+ Museum has taken the application of digital technology as the long-term goal of art development, and Hua Anya, director of the M+ Museum in Hong Kong, said that digital programs are an indispensable part of the M+ Museum, and the use of innovative technology should not be limited to specific areas of visual culture, and the development of digital forms in research, exhibitions and activities has become the basic requirement of art institutions.
During the pandemic, M+ Museum has been actively enriching online content and resources, launching a video exhibition "Watch and Chill: Streaming Art at Home", sharing the work of artists from all over Asia, and hosting a series of online lectures on visual culture to encourage audiences to explore artistic and cultural possibilities and new opportunities.
In addition, the M+ Museum uses its iconic LED curtain wall to showcase its new digital work Touch for Luck, interacting with audiences from around the world and exploring the appeal of art technology. After the outbreak of the fifth wave of the epidemic in Hong Kong, the LED curtain wall interpreted the social responsibility of public cultural institutions, conveyed positive and encouraging messages to the public, and hoped to soothe social emotions with digital art.
LED curtain wall of M+ Museum in Hong Kong under the epidemic situation. Courtesy of M+ Museum, Hong Kong
"Despite the difficulties, the industry is still flexible and innovative in bringing together a strong cultural atmosphere for the city, which makes me more confident and optimistic about the future of Hong Kong's culture and art." When it comes to the development trend of the industry, Hua Anya is full of expectations, and M+ Museum will always maintain close contact with the industry to find solutions, provide suggestions and initiatives to meet the challenges.
Chow believes that "art technology" will be built into a new platform in the field of culture and art in Hong Kong, which can communicate with audiences more conveniently and try a variety of forms of expression, so as to develop Hong Kong into a hub for creative industries and culture and art. The HKADB plans to hold art and technology exhibitions with different themes at Central Street Market, 7 Mak Lo Street and other venues in the second half of 2022, so as to bring a diversified artistic feast to the public in a physical and online parallel mode, making art technology more "ground-friendly".
Win-win cooperation and global cultural mutual learning bring together China and foreign countries
The outline of the national "14th Five-Year Plan" clearly proposes to support Hong Kong's development into a Chinese and foreign cultural and artistic exchange center, and "culture" has once again become one of the key words for Hong Kong's future development. Bringing together East and West, blending ancient and modern, Hong Kong has a world-class cultural infrastructure and a diverse artistic atmosphere, where art and creativity from all over the world gather, and Hong Kong's cultural industry shines brightly.
"Hong Kong needs to give full play to its own advantages and tell the Chinese story well, farther and more emotionally." "The HKADB has always played the role of 'in-house' and 'diplomatic' by vigorously promoting cooperation between Hong Kong and the Mainland in cultural and arts-related fields, especially cultural projects in mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area, on the one hand, leading local arts creators to participate in cultural and artistic activities around the world, building bridges of communication and uniting the world's attention," zhou said. ”
Since 2018, the HKADB has launched the Mainland Performance Scheme, which has collaborated with arts institutions in Beijing, Shanghai and the Greater Bay Area to broaden the development path of Hong Kong's arts and arts industries and deepen cultural exchanges and development between Hong Kong and the Mainland. During the epidemic period, the HKEDA also actively participated in the preparation of related projects, "Hong Kong Week 2021 @ Guangzhou" presented Hong Kong's outstanding works online, breaking the boundaries of time and space and interpreting Hong Kong-style highlights.
In terms of foreign exchanges, in addition to encouraging Hong Kong art practitioners to participate in "cultural investigations" overseas to promote the two-way flow of culture, the ICB has also taken the initiative to introduce cultural fairs from all over the world, so that Hong Kong citizens can feel the cultural influence of exoticism without leaving their homes.
At the same time, Creative Hk will join hands with the industry to strengthen ties with domestic and overseas, deepen cultural and creative exchanges and cooperation between Hong Kong and the rest of the world, especially with countries along the "Belt and Road" and cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, so as to consolidate Hong Kong's position as Asia's creative capital.
"We look forward to reinventing Hong Kong's cultural strengths and presenting a vibrant, open and optimistic image. The industry will learn from the experience of 'seeking change in the epidemic', stimulate more potential of culture and art, and unite peers at home and abroad to bring more diversified and deeper cultural experiences to global audiences." Hua Anya said that the M+ museum will play a key role in showing the infinite possibilities brought by cultural institutions and promoting the development of Hong Kong as a cultural and artistic exchange center between China and foreign countries.
Since its opening, M+ Museum has been committed to promoting regional, Asian and international exchanges. In March 2021, M+ Museum held a seminar on the theme of "M+ Thinking | Focus Talk - Understanding the Audience: Different Ways of Chinese Art Museums", and established long-term cooperative relations with overseas art institutions such as South Korea and Thailand, moving towards a new field of future development of the industry.
Wind and material should be looked at for a long time, and culture and art should be renewed. Despite the impact of the epidemic, Hong Kong's cultural and arts industry has remained as good as ever, working together to overcome thorns and pieces in a new challenge to build strength for the unveiling of a new chapter. Under the guidance of the 14th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong will continue to play its unique advantages, activate the cultural and creative engine, and demonstrate the cultural dynamics and vitality of the international metropolis.