ARTS EDUCATION AND
AUDIENCE-BUILDING
PROGRAMMES
In 2016-17, the LCSD continued to collaborate with local arts groups to conduct arts education projects in schools through the School Performing Arts in Practice Scheme. The scheme, which involved a series of workshops followed by performances, gave student participants practical opportunities to get involved in the arts, along with information about pathways for further study. In 2016-17, 12 projects were presented, in areas as varied as music composition, Western music, dance, musicals, drama, puppetry and Cantonese opera. Projects were undertaken by the Chung Ying Theatre Company, the City Contemporary Dance Company, the Hong Kong Ballet, the Hong Kong 3 Arts Musical Institute, Prospects Theatre, Theatre Ronin, the Hong Kong Composers’ Guild, the Hong Kong Federation of Women Six Arts Orchestra, Studiodanz, Make Friends with Puppet, the Seals Players Foundation, and the Kim Sum Cantonese Opera Association.
The LCSD also worked with some of these arts groups and participating schools to run various students’ performances for the community, held at community centres and homes for the elderly in the vicinity of their schools.
The School Culture Day Scheme encouraged schools to bring students along to the LCSD’s performance venues, museums and libraries during school hours to take part in a series of cultural activities, many of which integrated art, history and science topics within the school curriculum. Some of the activities also invited participation by parents.
The Arts Experience Scheme for Senior Secondary Students delivers tailor-made programmes designed to tie in with the Other Learning Experiences in Aesthetic Development under the New Senior Secondary Curriculum. A total of 18 programmes were offered under this scheme in 2016-17, including programmes in dance, drama, music, Western and Cantonese opera and multi-media arts. Participating artists and arts groups included the Chung Ying Theatre Company, Zuni Icosahedron, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, the City Contemporary Dance Company, the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, Class 7A Drama Group, Musica Viva, the Absolutely Fabulous Theatre Connection, Ivanhoe Lam, Drama Gallery, Pants Theatre Production, R&T (Rhythm & Tempo), Premiere Performances of Hong Kong, Yan Pat-to, Sun Kim-long, Miu Dan-ching and Janet Wong.
The Performing Arts Appreciation Project for Senior Secondary Students, organised in collaboration with the International Association of Theatre Critics (Hong Kong), introduced students to basic techniques of arts criticism through seminars and workshops.
To encourage students’ interest in Cantonese opera, the LCSD presented the programme Let’s Enjoy Cantonese Opera in Bamboo Theatre with the support of district organisations. The programme featured performances of Cantonese opera in bamboo theatres in various districts, and included interactive and educational activities specially tailored for students.
The General Education in Arts Programme for Tertiary Students (Dance) gave tertiary students the chance to gain an in-depth understanding of dance art through dance appreciation activities and workshops, complemented by elements from the visual and literary arts. Students were also able to create and present their own dance-related work under professional guidance.
Audience-building programmes held at the community level during the year included the Community Cultural Ambassador Scheme and various other projects organised in co-operation with district and non-government cultural organisations.
Outreach activities under the Community Cultural Ambassador Scheme aim to make the arts more accessible to people in the community. A total of 19 arts groups or artists participated in the scheme in 2016-17, conducting performances in public spaces such as parks, shopping malls and community centres.
To encourage the elderly to get involved in cultural activities, the LCSD runs a Community Oral History Theatre Project in collaboration with performing arts and district organisations. The project collects personal histories from elderly people from specific districts, who then perform their stories on stage after they have been scripted. In 2016-17, the project was continued in Sha Tin and extended to Central and Western District, following its earlier successful implementation in Sham Shui Po, Kwun Tong, Islands (Tai O) and Eastern Districts.
