RECREATION, SPORT AND THE ARTS
Art: Forum on Media Arts and Creative Industries — Digital Now 2003; Artist Survival Workshop, and a public art lecture series.
The Fringe Club
The Fringe Club was established in 1983. It mounts a fringe festival in January every year. Its open-access policy allows local and overseas artists to produce various performances and exhibitions. The Fringe Club is the venue for the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, 'Le French May' Festival, Faust Festival and others. It runs a diverse programme of theatre, dance, music, and the visual arts year-round. It also has its own theatre productions, and organises art exhibitions and site-specific work with a Hong Kong heritage theme.
The Fringe Club is housed in a cold storage warehouse built in 1890, which has been listed as a historic monument. Since 1983, the building has undergone seven major renovations, providing a vibrant contemporary arts space. In 2001, the Fringe Club was given the Heritage Award by the Government for its outstanding cultural use of space in this historical building. It has two studio theatres, three exhibition areas (including a photography gallery), a pottery workshop and showroom, a rehearsal studio, a restaurant, two bars, an outdoor cafe, and offices.
Performing Arts Groups
Chung Ying Theatre
Chung Ying Theatre was established in 1979. Its mission is to nurture artistic excellence through the development of new plays, theatre-in-education projects and training of theatre practitioners. In 2003, members of its creative team created four original plays including Far away... yet so close, Angel Aurora, Action! Mr. Lai, and When Snow Falls (a musical play). A theatre performance entitled The Arctic Saviour was touring in secondary schools. A rerun of Alive in the Mortuary was the final performance of the season. Moreover, Chung Ying was commissioned as a Community Cultural Ambassador by the LCSD, to further its promotion of theatre. performances.
City Contemporary Dance Company
The City Contemporary Dance Company was established in 1979. It is a professional modern dance company that endeavours to rally the best Chinese talents in creating dance in the contemporary context of China. In 2003, the company produced five new works including Autumn Sonata, a double bill by its resident choreographer Helen Lai and Pun Siu-fai; The Enigma of Desire by its associate choreographer Mui Cheuk-yin and resident artist Xing Liang; and two mixed bills by young choreographers from Hong Kong and the Mainland. The company's Education and Outreach Department offered year-round comprehensive dance courses for both adults and children, and presented outdoor performances as part of its activities to reach out to the community.
Hong Kong Ballet
The Hong Kong Ballet was established in 1979. It mission is to promote the finest ballet art forms of East and West. In 2003, the Hong Kong Ballet commissioned a new production, Turandot, a dramatic ballet based on the Puccini opera. It was created by the internationally acclaimed choreographer Natalie Weir. During the year,
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