RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
Dance, music and theatre technical arts students staged performances of Chinese Music and Chinese Dance in London and Edinburgh during October at the invitation of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office.
Hong Kong Arts Centre
Founded in 1977, the Hong Kong Arts Centre is an independent, non-profit making and multi-disciplinary arts organisation, presenting both mainstream and contemporary performing, visual, film and video arts and arts education programmes that are accessible and fulfilling to as many people as possible.
The centre has three auditoria the 439-seat Shouson Theatre, the 193-seat Lim Por Yen Film Theatre and the 80-seat McAulay Studio. Other venues include the Pao Sui Loong and Pao Yue Kong Galleries, the Atrium Gallery, rehearsal rooms, art and craft studios, music practice rooms and classrooms as well as the newly established Zeman Media Centre and Watari Computer Centre. As a community resources centre, it encourages organisations and individuals to make full use of its facilities. In 1997, the centre was visited by more than one million people.
To celebrate its 20th anniversary in 1997, the centre launched a series of programmes and activities, including NOW '97-New Life Movement, Modern Classics and Contemporary Art from the Wurth Collection, Hong Kong Incarnated and The Other Space Taiwan Focus. Other programme highlights included exhibitions on Hong Kong Culture Series — The Art of Yee Bon (1905–1995), Being Minorities Contemporary Asian Art, and Focus at the Frontline 96 - A Photojournalistic Account of 1996 Contest. In 1996-97, the centre also held performing arts programmes which included DemiSoda Onstage, Journey to the East 97 Beijing, Hong Kong, Taipei, Little Asia '97 and Art Education programmes such as In Transit In Transition: A Poetic Encounter in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Fashion Allure 50 Years (Publication), and Parents & Children Art Activities.
Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund was set up in 1979 with a donation of $10 million from the Hong Kong Jockey Club for the promotion and development of music and dance education. It is a non-statutory trust fund, administered by a board of trustees. In 1994, the Jockey Club provided a further capital injection of $22 million to meet the increase in demand for support.
During 1997, the fund awarded 198 grants and 10 scholarships totalling $3.5 million. The scholarships enabled young people to study music or dance abroad at post-diploma level. The grants helped local schools and organisations to acquire or repair musical instruments and dance equipment, and to set up orchestras or dance groups.
Music Office
The Music Office was set up by the government in 1977 and taken over by the two municipal councils on August 1, 1995. They maintain its objective of promoting music among the public, especially among young people, through the provision of music training.
A total of 689 instrumental music training classes and interest classes have been conducted for 3 635 trainees. Apart from major annual events such as the music
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