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Recreation, Sport, Culture and the Arts
Lord Wilson Heritage Trust
The Lord Wilson Heritage Trust provides funding for community organisations and individuals to implement heritage-related projects. Fifteen projects worth $4.19 million were approved in 2019.
Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund awards scholarships to candidates of outstanding calibre to pursue further studies or training in music or dance in or outside the city. Fifteen scholarships worth $6.56 million were awarded in 2019.
Art Development Matching Grants Scheme
The bureau's $800 million Art Development Matching Grants Scheme seeks to widen funding sources for arts groups and encourage community support for arts and cultural development. It matches the private donations and sponsorships raised by eligible arts groups by providing the corresponding grants.
Culture and Arts Venues
West Kowloon Cultural District
The WKCD, set to stretch across 40 hectares along Victoria Harbour, is being developed as an integrated arts and cultural district with world-class facilities. Its aim is to promote the development of arts and culture, meet the growing cultural needs of the public and strengthen Hong Kong's position as an international arts and cultural metropolis.
The WKCD is progressing from the project planning and construction phase to the operational phase. The Xiqu Centre, dedicated to the conservation and promotion of the xiqu art form, held its grand opening in January while Freespace, Hong Kong's new centre for contemporary performances and a creative space for cutting-edge productions, came into operation in June. The Art Park is the green heart of the WKCD, featuring a diversity of trees and plants spread across open lawns. The waterfront promenade is lined with cafes and restaurants, and has become a popular place to take sunset photographs against the backdrop of Victoria Harbour. Major facilities, including the M+ museum, Hong Kong Palace Museum and Lyric Theatre Complex, are scheduled for completion in the next few years.
The WKCD Authority initiates and co-presents arts and cultural programmes to develop the capacity of the local arts and cultural sector, build audiences, engage the community and youth and nurture young artists. Major initiatives during the year included xiqu performances delivered during the grand opening and opening season of the Xiqu Centre, the Tea House Theatre Experience presented by the Xiqu Centre's own Tea House Rising Stars Troupe, Farewell My Concubine (New Adaptation), the inaugural Freespace Jazz Fest at the Art Park and Freespace, the Sigg Prize exhibition at the M+ Pavilion, M+ at Art Basel Hong Kong and a preview exhibition of the Hong Kong Palace Museum at Fine Art Asia.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department manages 16 performance venues.
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