In an effort to cultivate the community's cultural literacy, the department has organised 853 arts education and audience-building activities within the community and at schools. In 2004, a total of 208,332 people participated in the schemes.

...in Schools

Various arts education programmes are organised at schools to encourage students to develop an interest in arts and to foster cultural literacy in their early years.

The department collaborates with local performing groups experienced in arts education to implement the School Arts Animateur Scheme. The scheme provides an in-depth introduction to different types of performing arts among students in schools. Students demonstrate their learning in a grand finale after completing the scheme. Six projects were offered in 2004.

	Students in the School Drama Animateur Scheme demonstrating their skills at a finale performance.

The School Culture Day Scheme mobilises primary, secondary and special schools to bring students to performance venues, museums and libraries during school hours. Arts and cultural activities are especially arranged for them. The programmes provide opportunities for interactive learning, integrating arts, history and science into the student's learning process and everyday living. The scheme has been well received.

The above arts education activities are an integral part of the cultural programmes offered.

...in the Community

At the community level, the audience-building programmes include the Artist-in-Residence Scheme, the Community Cultural Ambassador Scheme and the District Cantonese Opera Parade.

The Artist-in-Residence Scheme provides opportunities for the community to gain an insight into the work of artists by participating in interesting educational activities conducted by artists during their residency at performance venues. Nine groups or artists joined this scheme in 2004, including the On & On Theatre Workshop, the Ming Ri Institute for Arts Education, the Class 7A Drama Group, the Hong Kong Drum Ensemble, Ng Hiu-hung, the Sunny Cantonese Opera Troupe, the Kam Yuk Tong Cantonese Opera Troupe, the Shu Ning Presentation Unit and the Spring-Time Experimental Theatre.

Outreach activities under the Community Cultural Ambassador Scheme make the arts more accessible to the community. Participating artists organise activities in public spaces such as parks, shopping malls, community centres and venues of voluntary agencies. Some of the projects offered in 2004, including Y-Space's The Story of Island and Boat — Hong Kong, Spring-Time Experimental Theatre's Drama around Hong Kong and Theatre Space's A Dramatic Bus Journey Touring Hong Kong Heritage, placed emphasis on exploring and showcasing a community's history and cultural heritage.

	Taking the arts to the community in public spaces with outreach activities organised through the Community Cultural Ambassador Scheme.

The District Cantonese Opera Parade helps promote Cantonese opera in districts and offers public performance opportunities for budding Cantonese opera troupes and artists.

The department continues to implement the Cultural Services Volunteers Scheme encouraging people to make better use of their leisure time by providing voluntary work in promoting arts and culture. About 2,000 volunteers were recruited under the scheme.