RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
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Visual Arts
The Regional Council's Best of Visual Arts scheme provides opportunities for local visual artists to exhibit their works in major civic centres. Under this scheme, local artists and art organisations are presented in one-person or joint exhibitions of painting, calligraphy, sculpture, ceramics and print-making.
In 1993, a total of 18 exhibitions were held, attracting 14 400 visitors.
Entertainment Programmes
The council regularly presents free cultural and entertainment programmes in community halls, playgrounds and open spaces to provide community leisure activities for residents in the vicinity. In 1993, 362 programmes were organised, attracting 215 700 people.
These free programmes, including Chinese instrumental 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 helped 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. They range 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
Hong Kong Cultural Centre, an international landmark on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, is a leading performing arts venue in the territory.
Its oval-shaped, 2085-seat Concert Hall has played host to numerous local artists and many of the world's finest orchestras and soloists. Internationally-renowned artists appearing there in 1993 included Jose Carreras, Barbara Hendricks, Isaac Stern, James Galway, Emanuel Ax, Janos Starker, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Grand Theatre, with its advanced stage facilities, has accommodated a diversity of functions ranging from highly complicated theatrical productions to film shows. In 1993, audiences saw performances there by the Bolshoi Ballet, the Pina Bausch Wuppertal Dance Theatre, the Birmingham Royal Ballet, the Paris Opera Ballet and the Byelorussian Ballet.
The Studio Theatre with its variable stage configurations has proven to be a valuable venue for small-scale functions and drama productions requiring an intimate atmosphere.
To promote the centre and nurture the arts in the territory, a total of 234 free foyer, outdoor and educational programmes were presented, attracting a total of 81 680 participants.
In 1993, 3.5 million patrons visited the centre.
City Hall
Since its opening in 1962, the City Hall has become synonymous with the development of the arts and culture in Hong Kong. It continues to be one of the council's major cultural venues while retaining its popularity as a centre in the urban area for the performing and
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