The department’s arts managers, curators and librarians regularly attend international conferences and festivals to keep in touch with the latest developments and to scout for quality programmes to be presented in Hong Kong.
Our Public Libraries strengthened ties with counterparts elsewhere to cooperate and exchange views on subjects of mutual interest. A public lecture, IFLA and Asia: Strategies and Initiatives for Libraries and Library Associations in Asia and Oceania, was jointly organised with the Regional Standing Committee for Asia and Oceania, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions and Hong Kong Library Association. The event provided a platform for local and international librarians to share knowledge about the latest developments in Information Science in the region.
In 2011-12, the department’s representatives attended the Asia-Pacific Network of Science & Technology Centres (ASPAC) 2011 Annual Conference (Guangdong) and the 11th Guangdong Arts Festival.
Attendance in overseas exchange programmes included: the Venice Biennale 2011; the Communicating the Museum － CTM11 Conference in Dusseldorf; the Museum Association 2011 Annual Conference, the British Council Edinburgh Showcase and the Edinburgh International Festival in the United Kingdom; the 33rd Annual Conference and Exhibition of the International Ticketing Association (INTIX) and the Association of Science-Technology Centres (ASTC) 2011 Annual Conference in the United States; the 15th Southeast Asia-Pacific Audiovisual Archive Association (SEAPAVAA) Conference and the General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur; the European Network of Science Centres and Museums (ECSITE) Annual Conference 2011 in Poland; the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) in Singapore; the 2011 Australia ICOMOS and the National Trusts of Australia Conference; and the Sibiu International Theatre Festival in Romania.
The Exhibition of Rare Books and Special Collections from the National Library of China, one of the major cultural exchange programmes with Mainland public libraries, brought to Hong Kong selected cultural relics of China to acquaint people with Chinese civilisation and heritage.
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Secretary of Home Affairs, Tsang Tak-sing (right) and the former Vice Minister of Culture and Director of the National Library of China, Zhou Heping, open the Exhibition of Rare Books and Special Collections from the National Library of China. |
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As part of the library co-operation programme to promote reading and creative writing, the Hong Kong Public Libraries and Shenzhen Library held creative writing competitions to celebrate the 4.23 World Book Day. The winning entries from Hong Kong and Shenzhen were displayed in both libraries.
To enhance cultural exchange, improve co-operation and extend networking, reciprocal visits were organised between the LCSD and cultural bodies on the Mainland and in Macao. Among the visitors to Hong Kong during the year were delegates from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Affair Office of Fujian Provincial People’s Government, National Centre for the Performing Arts, Department of Culture of Guangxi, China Association of Performing Arts, Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre and Shanghai Grand Theatre.
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The objectives and direction of future exchanges and co-operation on cultural heritage between the Mainland and Hong Kong were strengthened with the signing of an agreement by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Tsang Tak-sing (right) and the Director General of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, Shan Jixiang. |
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The Greater Pearl River Delta Cultural Co-operation Meeting, held annually to strengthen cultural exchange and co-operation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, was hosted in Guangdong in 2011. A wide range of topics was discussed during the two-day meeting, including the development and exchange of performing arts talent and programme collaboration; interflow of cultural information; heritage and museum co-operation; library co-operation and exchanges; intangible cultural heritage and further study of the development of cultural and creative industries.
In Search of the Ideal Nation － Dr Sun Yat-sen and Guangzhou after the 1911 Revolution exhibition, was presented jointly with the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Guangzhou Committee and the Administration of Culture, Press, Publication, Radio and Television of Guangzhou Municipality. The exhibition, co-organised with the Memorial Museum of Generalissimo Sun Yat-sen’s Mansion, was held at the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum from September 2011 to March 2012.
In November 2011, the annual Cantonese Opera Day was held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza to promote the art and enhance community access.
A project to strengthen online links with public libraries systems outside Hong Kong was completed. Websites and online catalogues of the Hong Kong Public Libraries, the Sun Yat-Sen Library of Guangdong Province, the Shenzhen Library and the Macao Central Library were interlinked to facilitate the sharing of library news and collections.
The LCSD coordinated three music programmes for the Hong Kong Week at the 2011 Xi’an International Horticultural Exposition from June 27 to July 1, 2011. In the 25 outdoor concerts at the Hong Kong Garden, over 30 local artists performed their signature pieces, ranging from western classics to adaptations of Hong Kong and Chinese tunes in three programmes: Varsity in the Garden by the Varsity Saxophone Quartet, Contemporary A Cappella in Xi’an by the Sregnis Singers, and concerts by the Hong Kong Harmonica Association.
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Members of the Hong Kong Harmonica Association stage an outdoor concert entitled The Unique Charming Harmonica Music from Hong Kong at the International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi’an. |
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