ARTS BEYOND BORDERS

Text: Ginn Fung/ Photos: Hazel Chow, iStockphoto, interviewee

Lingnan is all set to drive developments in the Greater Bay Area with the launch of a new Department of Digital Arts and Creative Industries and other initiatives

Earlier this year, the Faculty of Arts took a big step by renaming its Department of Visual Studies as the Department of Digital Arts and Creative Industries (DA+CI).

The initiative is not just about a name; it has a much bigger purpose.

“I thought the main issue with ‘visual studies’ was probably its rather obscure identity; few people could define it,” says Prof Lee Sang Joon, Associate Professor and Head of DA+CI, who joined Lingnan in August 2022 and was immediately impressed by the great potential of the team of scholars and educators he met.

However, he also wondered why the many evident qualities had not yet translated into a stellar reputation among the Hong Kong academic community.

“Many students came to our programme expecting to study drawing, design, film production, and other studio arts,” Prof Lee says. “We certainly taught those subjects, but the ‘visual studies’ curriculum was a unique learning hub that also included courses in cinema, museums and curation, art history, and more. We needed a new name to reflect the department’s recent changes as well as the shifting market conditions in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA).”

Therefore, a decision was taken to bring together the BA programme in Visual Studies, the BA in Animation and Digital Arts (ADA), and the recently launched senior-year BA in Creative Media Industries (CMI) under one roof, along with the MA in Curating and Art History and the MA in Creative and Media Industries.

As a result, the DA+CI is now able to offer students a holistic education in the arts, with each programme reflecting and maintaining Lingnan’s guiding principles.

“ADA and CMI students can learn critical theories, film history, Chinese and Western arts, and even K-pop under the DA+CI umbrella,” says Prof Lee, a specialist in the history of Asian cinema. “Similarly, Visual Studies students can take courses in motion graphics, VR/AR and immersive media, media production, and video art. Students are welcome to join any of our classes to gain new skills and knowledge that will later help them find jobs in Hong Kong, the GBA and elsewhere. We will open their eyes to the world.”

Looking ahead, the DA+CI team aims to facilitate research and promote collaboration, student exchanges, and joint degree programmes. The intention is to establish closer links with some of the world's leading universities and research institutions and, where possible, cooperate on grant applications.

“We are proud to say that the delivery of this new DA+CI ‘baby’ also represents Lingnan’s commitment to Hong Kong’s future development as a cultural and arts hub in the GBA,” says Prof Emilie Yeh, Dean of the Faculty of Arts. “More importantly, by holding on to our traditional strengths in media studies and art history, curating, and integrating with animation and arts tech, we will survive and thrive in the future.”

There are, of course, major changes in the external environment, seen in the rise of streaming services, new business models in the media sector, a shift in consumer expectations, the power of ICT, and the need for new types of talent.

Taking account of these factors, Prof Yeh believes Hong Kong’s creative industries are now at a “crossroads”. Therefore, students must be openminded, willing to adopt new ideas and perspectives, and ready to take artistic risks when appropriate. If they can do that, many exciting opportunities await.

“For example, we are now starting to see the full vision of the West Kowloon Cultural District, with all its spectacular cultural and art sites bringing people to Hong Kong,” Prof Yeh says. “This also reflects the city’s traditional strength as a regional and global hub where people meet and exchange ideas.”

Assuming Hong Kong continues to develop the networks and infrastructure to support high-quality exhibitions and the whole range of visual and performing venues, the prospects are bright for anyone attracted to this sector.

“Arts and culture really have no boundaries,” Prof Yeh says. “If professionals know there is a good place to showcase their work, established artists and new talent will want to be part of this.”

One sign of this is the increasing popularity of the department’s master’s programmes, particularly the MA in Creative and Media Industries. It is attracting a notable number of applicants from the mainland who have hopes of landing good jobs in the GBA, whether in museums, art galleries, or performing arts venues, which are seeing new levels of investment in cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

What draws these and other candidates is Lingnan’s reputation for quality education, the small-size classes, and the interaction between students and faculty.

“As Dean, I look at the CTLE (Course

Teaching and Learning Evaluation) very closely, especially students’ responses about whether the teachers are well prepared, responsive, and prompt in answering queries,” Prof Yeh says.

For Prof Lee, who previously taught at a massive science and technology university with over 30,000 students and 2,500 faculty members spread across a huge campus, such things are important.

“Students there tend to feel overwhelmed and alienated,” Prof Lee says. “But here, I can easily communicate with colleagues and students to explore new research and teaching areas. For example, we will launch several overseas programmes, one of which is a trip to the Busan International Film Festival in October 2023.

“We are small but strong. In the long run, we aim to be one of Asia's top programmes in the arts, technology, and creative industries.”

Lingnan @ WestKowloon, an off-campus learning hub for LU students and a place to meet key stakeholders will be officially opened at M+ Tower in the West Kowloon Cultural District during the 2023/24 academic year.

Located on the 12th and 13th floors of the M+ Tower, the brandnew 20,000-square-foot hub includes classrooms, lecture halls, and study rooms. There are also offices for faculty and staff, studios, exhibition areas, discussion spaces and breakout areas for social engagement activities and partner events.

With generous support from the Chamber of Young Snow Company Limited, the University plans to develop its strength in the research of Chinese culture by setting up the Chamber of Young Snow Art Exhibition Hall. This will help to increase interest among students and the general public and enhance their understanding of Chinese art in a global context.

Among other initiatives, an exhibition space will be set up on the Lingnan campus to showcase valuable Chinese arts and host special exhibitions on a regular basis.

LU and The Authority of Qianhai are setting up the “Lingnan University Creative and Cultural Innovation Research Institute (Shenzhen Qianhai)” to promote the development of the cultural and creative industries in the Qianhai Cooperation Zone.

This will see the establishment of a Qianhai-based think tank to carry out long-term, in-depth policy research on the cultural and creative industries and youth development in the Greater Bay Area. The new institute will also establish a Qianhai School of Graduate Studies to nurture all-round talent. It will offer short certificate courses in fashion design, advertising, cultural creativity, new media, and cultural education. There will also be taught postgraduate programmes in these subjects to ensure a continuous supply of trained graduates to work in the cultural and creative industries.

LU is the first local university to set up an official institute in Qianhai.