HONG KONG – The 53rd Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF) celebrated its official finale today (29 March) with a performance by the China National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra. The Finale Toasting Ceremony was held after the performance at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The officiating party included Guest of Honour Mr Eric Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, who was joined by Professor Lo Kingman, Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival; Ms Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism; Dr Liu Yagan, Chairman & Executive Director of ICBC (Asia); Mr Lin Nan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Ms Winnie Yip, Head of Charities (Culture, Sports and Community Engagement) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Ms Fanny Au, Assistant Director (Performing Arts) of Leisure and Cultural Services Department; and Ms Flora Yu, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival. The Festival Finale performance was exclusively sponsored by ICBC (Asia).

The month-long Festival this year presented more than 1,300 acclaimed international and local artists in 51 programmes in 135 performances, including six new works/world premieres, five Asia premieres and two co-productions. The Festival presented programmes across a wide range of genres*, including western opera, traditional Chinese opera, classical music, contemporary music, ballet, contemporary dance, theatre in Cantonese, Putonghua and foreign languages, music theatre as well as VR interactive and arts tech programmes. Over 90% of the total number of tickets available at this year’s Festival were sold.    
                                                                                     
In addition to the main Festival programme, the HKAF also offered a diverse range of over 300 Festival PLUS, education and outreach events in performance venues and community locations. Festival PLUS activities included exhibitions, masterclasses, workshops, backstage tours, artist talks, film screenings and local cultural tours, enhancing the audiences’ Festival experience. In terms of arts education, the HKAF’s Young Friends Scheme provided students with a diverse arts experience through school tour showcases, in-school workshops, Hong Kong Jockey Club Student Matinee programme, school-based projects as well as arts appreciation performances and workshops targeted at young students. Discounted student tickets were in high demand and more than 12,000 were made available through the Student Ticket Scheme.                                              

The Festival is estimated to have reached about 300,000 people from Hong Kong, mainland China and overseas through its diverse range of performances and events this year. The HKAF sincerely thanks the Hong Kong SAR Government via the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, commercial sector sponsors, other charitable foundations, Patron’s Club members, individual and institutional donors, in-kind and other supporters, as well as the Hong Kong Arts Festival Foundation patrons for their contribution. The Festival also thanks over 1,300 exceptional international and local artists, as well as audience members and event participants for their support.

Photo Credit: Hong Kong Arts Festival

For more information about the Hong Kong Arts Festival, visit hk.artsfestival.org.