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Recreation, Sport, Culture and the Arts
involvement in the arts in Hong Kong. Some 846,000 people attended or took part in 914 stage performances and 1,034 educational, promotional and audience-building activities organised by the venue partners in 2013.
West Kowloon Cultural District
The West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD), a 40-hectare prime waterfront site at the southern tip of the West Kowloon Reclamation Area, is being developed as an integrated arts and cultural district with world-class facilities. The government aims to promote the development of arts and culture and Hong Kong as an international arts and cultural metropolis.
The draft WKCD Development Plan, based on the 'City Park' concept by Foster + Partners, was approved by the Chief Executive-in-Council in January 2013. Despite the challenge presented by project cost escalation, the government and the WKCD Authority are committed to developing the WKCD into a world-class hub of arts and culture. It was announced in June that a pragmatic approach would be adopted and a mix of arts and cultural facilities would come on stream in three batches starting from 2015-16.
Progress for the design and construction of the WKCD facilities in 2013 included the selection in June of Herzog & de Meuron with TFP Farrells and Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd's competition entry as the design for M+, a museum focusing on 20th and 21st century visual culture, and in September the start of construction of Xiqu Centre, WKCD's first major performing arts venue. The Design Competition for the Arts Pavilion, an exhibition and event pavilion for use by organisations, artists, designers and others, was also launched in September 2013.
The WKCD Authority will continue to nurture local arts talents and build audiences in collaboration with arts groups, education institutions and local communities to dovetail with the commissioning of the WKCD's arts and cultural facilities.
URBTIX
URBTIX (Urban Ticketing System) is one of the most widely-used computerised ticketing systems in Hong Kong. It offers a variety of convenient and reliable ticketing services to the public through its network of over 40 outlets throughout the territory as well as internet and telephone booking services. In 2013, 4.76 million tickets with proceeds over $1,000 million were processed by the system.
Culture and Arts Organisations
Hong Kong Arts Development Council
The Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) plans, promotes, funds and supports the broad development of the arts in Hong Kong. Besides encouraging public participation in the arts and advocating arts education, the HKADC also endeavours to advance arts criticism, raise the standards of arts administration and strengthen arts policy research. It also operates various grant schemes.
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