International Arts Carnival 2004

The six-week International Arts Carnival, which traditionally opens in mid-July, provides cultural events and entertainment for children, teenagers and families during the summer vacation. It introduces performances of diversified cultures and art forms of different countries to family audiences, and serves as a platform for local artists and groups. In addition to stage performances, outreach teams are lined up to promote arts activities at schools, foyers of civic centres and shopping arcades. Apart from the Graphic Design Competition open to all schools, intensive arts workshops, day camps and summer fun carnivals are also arranged.

	Family audiences get great joy from the Summer Fun Party of the International Arts Carnival.

The 2004 Carnival opened with The Dreamscape — the Secret Garden of Guizhou by the Zenyi Acrobatic Troupe and Guizhou Provincial Song and Dance Ensemble of China. Other highlights included The Wizard of Oz by Jumbo Kids Theatre, Kung Fu Clan by Chung Ying Theatre Company, Swan Lake by the Hong Kong Ballet Group, Quilly Kirky Lair by Theatre Ensemble, Twinkle Twinkle Little Fish by Windmill Performing Arts Company of Australia, Slastic by Clownic de Tricicle of Spain, San Guo Zhi by Kageboushi Theatre Company of Japan and the Chengdu Puppet Arts Theatre Company of China.

	San Guo Zhi, a collaboration between the Kageboushi Theatre Company of Japan and the Chengdu Puppet Arts Theatre Company of China, proves one of the highlights of the International Arts Carnival 2004.

A total of 20 local and eight overseas arts groups presented 395 events, attracting an attendance of 130,000. One-hundred-and-ten schools participated in the outreach activities. The carnival recorded an average attendance rate of 91% for its events.

New Vision Arts Festival 2004

First introduced in 2002, the New Vision Arts Festival presents innovative and outstanding cross-cultural performances with an element of contemporary Asian arts.

	Percussionist gives a foyer performance at the New Vision Arts Festival 2004.

The Festival of 2004 opened with a crossover concert jointly performed by Norwegian group Secret Garden and Mainland singers — Ding Fei Fei and Ding Wei. Other highlights included Tan Dun, who returned with his latest works — The Map and Paper Concerto; the U Theatre of Taiwan showing the award-winning piece — Meeting with Vajrasattva; and Edward Lam Dance Theatre's highly successful new work The Great Entertainer. Other highlights included amplified by Sal Vanilla of Japan; Tamashy-Voices of the Heart by Yamato: The drummers of Japan; Lot • us by Mui Cheuk-yin and Priscilla Leung; Spiritual Girl by Yeung Wai-mei; and Il n'y a plus de firmament co-produced by Theatre Vidy-Lausanne E.T.E. of Switzerland, Theatre de la Ville — Paris and Berliner Festwochen of Germany.

	amplified, a compelling interplay of futuristic images, surreal music and vibrant movements by Sal Vanilla, an avant garde theatre group and all-male cast from Japan.

Free community and extension activities are organised as an important part of the festival. These range from outdoor performances, exhibitions, workshops and forums, performance tours to schools, and master classes at universities.

A total of eight local and 13 overseas artists groups presented 71 events in the festival and attracted over 50,000 people. The festival recorded an average attendance rate of 87%.