Arts of Hong Kong 2023: The 51st Hong Kong Arts Festival opens with Ballet of Slovene National Theatre Maribor

HONG KONG – The 51st Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF) officially opened (17 February) with the Ballet of Slovene National Theatre Maribor performing Radio and Juliet & Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring). The Festival’s opening ceremony was held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre with The Honourable John KC Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Mr Victor Cha, Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival; The Hon Martin Liao, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Mr Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr Vincent Liu Ming-kwong, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services; and Ms Flora Yu, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival, officiating. The Festival Opening Performance is sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. 

This year, the HKAF is pleased to welcome back to the Festival stage acclaimed international and local artists in more than 40 programmes, across 110 performances, as well as more than 300 outreach events, bringing the arts into the community, including special events for Young Friends, educational activities for students from primary and secondary schools as well as tertiary institutions, and “PLUS” events for the general public, enriching audience experiences beyond the stage.

The theme of the 51st Hong Kong Arts Festival is “Coming Back, Moving Forward”, symbolising the Festival, artists and audiences physically gathering together again to celebrate the performing arts. The Festival welcomes returning artists who have formerly graced its stages; and through new works, special curations and cross-disciplinary collaborations, the Festival explores the endless possibilities of the arts for innovation, while honouring the legacy of great masters.

The 2023 Hong Kong Arts Festival runs from 17th February to 19th March 2023. Tickets and full programme available here