RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
exhibition on children's Chinese ink paintings, two book exhibitions on children's arts and an exhibition on Chinese traditional vernacular architecture.
Chinese Ethnic Arts Festival
A showcase of the cultural heritage of Chinese ethnic minorities, the festival featured the diverse cultures of different ethnic groups of China, as manifested in their performing arts and crafts. Those participating included ensembles from Liangshan, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yanbian (Jilin), the Ordos Song and Dance Troupes of Inner Mongolia, the Tibetan Opera Troupe, the Instrumental Ensemble of Chinese Ethnic Minorities featuring musicians from eleven different tribes, and the Chinese Ethnic Minorities Costumes Parade Ensemble featuring the costumes of China's 55 ethnic minorities. Highlights of the festival included an exhibition on the wedding costumes of Chinese ethnic minorities, comprising collections from the Nationalities Cultural Palace of Beijing, and two exhibitions on handicrafts and clothing gear presenting collections from the Yunnan Mass Art Gallery.
To add variety, three festival fairs were staged with outdoor performances, demonstra- tions and stall games. A total of 45 648 people participated in the festival programmes.
Visual Arts
The Regional Council's The Best of Visual Arts scheme provides more opportunities for local visual artists to exhibit their works in major civic centres. Under this scheme, local artists and art organisations were presented in one-person or joint exhibitions of works of painting, calligraphy, sculpture, ceramics and print-making.
In 1991, a total of 18 exhibitions were held attracting 15 063 persons.
Entertainment Programmes
The council regularly presents free cultural and entertainment programmes in community halls, playgrounds or open spaces to provide community leisure activities for residents in the vicinity. In 1991, 363 programmes were organised attracting 166 462 people.
These free programmes, including Chinese music, western music, Chinese folk dance, modern dance, Cantonese opera, puppet shows, pop shows and variety shows, brought professional performances to the general public and provided opportunities for budding artists to improve their performing skills. The performances also help to preserve Chinese cultural heritage such as puppetry and acrobatic art.
Venues
Most performance venues in Hong Kong are built and operated by the Urban and Regional Councils, ranging from major facilities such as the Hong Kong Cultural Centre to smaller multi-purpose centres used for district-based cultural activities.
Urban Council Venues
Hong Kong Cultural Centre
The internationally-reputed Hong Kong Cultural Centre, which occupies a prime waterfront position, provides purpose-built facilities for all performing arts.
The centre has a 2 085-seat Concert Hall designed for unamplified music, a 1 724-seat Grand Theatre for the presentation of opera, ballet, western and Chinese drama and variety shows, and a flexible 300 to 500-seat Studio Theatre for experimental drama.
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