RECREATION, SPORT AND THE ARTS
Hong Kong Sinfonietta
The 1999-2000 season was both a critical and exciting one for the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. The sinfonietta has transformed itself from an informal player-managed amateur entity to a professionally managed orchestra. The sinfonietta continued to participate in major musical events such as the annual international contemporary music festival, Musicarama, the Grand Millennium Concert produced by Radio Television Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Arts Festival, and the Kwai Tsing Theatre's Literature in Theatre. About 100 000 people saw the Hong Kong Sinfonietta live in performances with distinguished artists and groups. It has also brought music into the community via numerous outreach and educational projects such as the Cultural Ambassador Scheme.
Ming Ri Theatre Company
The Ming Ri Theatre Company is the first professional children's theatre in Hong Kong and is dedicated to promoting children's theatre as well as theatre-in- education. This year's major performances included San Mao: The Space Adventure, A Midsummer Night's Elf and Once Upon a Time There Was a King (in co-operation with Buchty A Loutky, Prague).
Zuni Icosahedron
Zuni continued to produce original arts productions with multi-media elements, including experimental programmes. In 2000, the company original productions included King Lear, Vanity Fair and 2001: a Hong Kong Odyssey. Another feature of its work was involvement in cultural exchange projects: Vanity Fair was performed in Lisbon, and Zuni was involved in the organisation of the cross-region cultural exchange project Festival of Vision: Hong Kong in Berlin and several international exchange conferences. To enhance young people's interest in experimental arts and arts education, the company presented the Experimental Theatre Lab and toured schools regularly.
Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund was set up in 1980 with a donation of $10 million from the Hong Kong Jockey Club for the promotion and development of music and dance. 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 increasing demand for support.
During the year, the fund awarded 11 scholarships and 204 grants totalling 2.21 million. The scholarships enabled young people to pursue an integrated programme of post-diploma studies, post-graduate studies or professional training in music or dance studies outside Hong Kong at renowned institutions. 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 provides music training and music promotion activities for the public, with the objective of promoting general music education in the community, especially for young people.
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