Conferences and Cultural Exchanges

Conferences

Arts managers of the Department are sent to international conferences and festivals to keep abreast of developments in the arts, to foster exchange with international counterparts and to scout for quality overseas programmes for presentation in Hong Kong.

In June 2006, the Department hosted for the first time the 20^th International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA) International Congress, bringing to Hong Kong the highest attendance yet for this annual event. The Congress attracted senior arts administrators, festival directors, performing arts centre directors and artist managers from around the world. In total, 293 delegates from Hong Kong and 32 overseas regions participated.

Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho presents the Distinguished Artist Award to revered Cantonese Opera artist Pak Suet-sin.

The theme of the Congress was 'The New Silk Road for the Performing Arts'. The event comprised two parts, namely, the ISPA Academy from June 6 to 7, 2006, and the Congress proper from June 8 to 11, 2006.

The hosting of the Congress and the concurrent events helped to promote Hong Kong as Asia's world city with a rich and unique culture, showcase Hong Kong artists and their work, facilitate Hong Kong and overseas arts practitioners and organisations to network for professional and business exchanges, enhance collaboration and advancement, contribute to the tourism business and gain international goodwill on the cultural front.

Reciprocal visits were arranged between the Department and cultural bodies from Mainland China and Macao to enhance cultural exchange, improve cooperation and extend networking. Among the visitors were delegates from the Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Culture, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture, Hangzhou Culture Radio Television Group and Zhuhai City String Chamber Orchestra. In addition, arts administrators from Guangdong Province and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region who participated in the Arts Management Seminar 2006 also paid a visit to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in August 2006. This seminar was jointly presented by the Department of Culture of Guangdong Province, the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Macao and the Department.

Cultural exchange projects organised under the umbrella of the Greater Pearl River Delta Cultural Cooperation Meeting included three performances by the Guangdong Drama Theatre at the Sunbeam Theatre in October, a concert by the Macao Orchestra at Sha Tin Town Hall in November, and in December 2006 a concert tour to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhongshan and Macao by the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Thirteen Hong, a drama presented by the Guangdong Drama Theatre under the Greater Pearl River Delta Cultural Cooperation project, has been well received by Hong Kong audiences.