J u l y /A ug ust 2 0 1 1 • V o l 26 • No 7
In This Issue
PAGE
Capturing Culture:
4
Managing Inflation By Ian Cruz
In
a city renowned for business and
government and the arts industry in their
W ith a view to tur ning Hong Kong into
finance, the subject of arts and culture has
approach towards reigniting the art-scene
a metropolis of international culture and
long been a point of contention in Hong
in Hong Kong.
changing people’s perception of Hong Kong as a finance-focused city, the ambitious
Kong, almost as if a rich involvement in art
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8
and culture might somehow get in the way
Though the number of homegrown artists
d e s i g n f o r t h e We s t K o w l o o n C u l t u r a l
of the business machine which helps drive
may have been bolstered in recent years,
District (WKCD) is the jewel in the crown
the Asian economy.
artists have found that their expanding
of the Hong Kong government’s strategic
community is being hindered by regulations
promotion of art and culture. The plan is to
Still, there is no question that Hong Kong’s
and lack of capacity. This has mainly been
build an integrated art and culture district
art and culture scene has been on the
attributed to the lack of sufficient options
with world-class facilities, which will feature
rise again in the last few years. Institutions
for space and venues in which the city’s
distinguished talent, iconic architecture
around town, such as the Arts Centre
art, cultural and creative industries can
and will embrace new technologies, new
and the Academy of Performing Arts have
further expand. With expensive land costs
applications of IT, and numerous sustainable
continued to champion arts and culture,
and rising rents to contend with, artists
features. The West Kowloon Cultural District
b o t h t h ro u g h e d u c a t i o n a s w e l l a s i n
are finding it hard to maintain a space to
Authority (WKCDA) was given 40 hectares of
performances and exhibitions. From plays
work, and therefore these industries often
land, where they will build 15 core arts and
and musicals, to operas and symphonies,
lack a solid foundation for growth at the
cultural facilities, including a contemporary
both local and international artists and
grassroots level.
art museum, a mega-performance venue,
UK Property
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12
Annual Ball
concert halls and theatres, as well as
performers are re-emerging. Meanwhile, art galleries have popped up in every corner of
Partly as a means to try to help artists,
facilities which will provide a framework to
Hong Kong, while our local art fair ART HK
the government enacted new industrial
groom and educate local artists and provide
at the HKCEC has grown to become one of
building policies, introduced during
the best possible environment for them to
the most lauded amongst art aficionados,
its 2009 policy address, outlining
learn and grow.
with this year’s event showcasing works of
tax incentives for building owners to
260 galleries from 38 countries, and more
convert industrial properties for high-
Recently speaking to British Chamber
than 1000 artists, drawing in a record crowd
end commercial use. As it happened, the
members at the Hong Kong Club, Dr
of over 63,000 art collectors and enthusiasts
policy drove up rent in industrial buildings,
M a n Wa i C h a n , E x e c u t i v e D i re c t o r o f
from around the world.
effectively compromising the operations
Project Delivery at the WKCDA provided
of local artists and musicians who had
members with an update on the project’s
However, while there may be strong support
enjoyed the relatively low rent in various
progress. Despite the lengthy planning
for arts and culture on the surface, there
industrial spaces throughout the outskirts
processes that have been put into the
is still a certain skepticism towards the
of the city. As a result, the measure has
WKCD so far, the project is still very much
arts and culture community from one very
actually been counter-productive for Hong
in the early stages, with the WKCDA
crucial element – the artists themselves.
Kong’s art and culture industries, and has
having decided to move forward using the
Plus
The city’s lifeblood of local talent commonly
presented the creative community with
concept design from renowned architect
• News / New Appointments • New Members • Shaken Not Stirred
complains of a disconnect between the
new obstacles.
Norman Foster. The Foster team is now
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18
Lifestyle
(Continued on page 2)
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