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Recreation, Sport, Culture and the Arts
Capital Funding
In 2008, an upfront endowment of $21.6 billion was granted to the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority to develop the West Kowloon Cultural District, meeting the long-term infrastructural and development needs of Hong Kong's arts and culture.
Recurrent Funding
In 2012-13, the government earmarked $3.24 billion (not including capital works expenditure) for supporting arts groups, arts education and promotion, and administrative costs.
Funding for the Major Performing Arts Groups
In 2012-13, HAB provided about $304 million to support nine major performing arts groups: the Chung Ying Theatre Company, the City Contemporary Dance Company, the Hong Kong Ballet, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, the Hong Kong Dance Company, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and the Zuni Icosahedron.
Arts and Sport Development Fund
The investment returns generated by $1.5 billion injected as seed money into the arts portion of the Arts and Sport Development Fund (ASDF) in 2010-11 are used to subsidise the long-term development of the arts and culture. The 'Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme' disburses around $30 million annually in the form of 'Springboard Grants' with matching elements and 'Project Grants' The scheme seeks to develop the capacity of local artists and arts. groups and to promote public-private partnership in local arts development. A total of 32 proposals were selected for grants in the funding exercises launched in 2011 and 2012. Another $30 million is earmarked annually from the arts portion of the ASDF to support arts projects initiated or recommended by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.
Cantonese Opera Development Fund
The Cantonese Opera Development Fund continues to provide funds to preserve, promote and develop Cantonese opera and in 2013 it granted about $8.15 million to support various Cantonese opera projects, including the Venue Partnership Scheme at Yau Ma Tei Theatre, Yuen Long Theatre and Sha Tin Town Hall, and projects to preserve the artistry of Cantonese opera master artists. The fund has approved $63 million for some 530 Cantonese opera projects since its inception in 2005.
Arts Development Fund
The Arts Development Fund was set up with a government contribution of $30 million in 1993 to enhance the development of the arts in Hong Kong. Since 2001, it has been used mainly to support cultural exchange projects. In 2013, $3.55 million was approved for 51 such projects.
Lord Wilson Heritage Trust
The Lord Wilson Heritage Trust provides funding support to community organisations and individuals to undertake heritage activities and research projects. Seven heritage-related projects worth about $1.16 million were approved in 2013.
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