MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1982
ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
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DETAILS WERE ANNOUNCED TODAY (MONDAY) OF THE FIRST CENTRE TO BE BUILT IN HONG KONG FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN THE PERFORMING ARTS.
THE PROJECT WILL OCCUPY A WATERFRONT SITE OF 23 000 SQUARE METRES (2.37 HECTARES) ADJACENT TO THE HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE, AND BUILDING IS EXPECTED TO COMMENCE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
THE ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS WILL BE BUILT BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB, AS A PROJECT TO MARK ITS CENTENARY IN 1984. THE JOCKEY CLUB'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE CAPITAL COSTS IS ESTIMATED TO BE $300 MILLION.
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING THE WAN CHAI SITE FOR THE ACADEMY, WILL CONTRIBUTE A FURTHER $70 MILLION TOWARDS THE PROJECT.
ON COMPLETION, THE ACADEMY WILL BE HANDED OVER TO THE GOVERNMENT WHO HAVE AGREED TO MEET THE ANNUAL RECURRENT COSTS, AMOUNTING TO $33 MILLION BASED ON ESTIMATES DRAWN UP IN JANUARY 1982.
THE HON LI FOOK-WO, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD SET UP TO OVERSEE THE PROJECT, ANNOUNCED THAT THE ACADEMY WAS BEING BUILT IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE GROWING NEED TO PROVIDE TERTIARY EDUCATION IN THE PERFORMING ARTS.
THIS WAS IN LINE WITH GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OBJECTIVES FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE ARTS, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ACADEMY WOULD ALSO SERVE TO ENCOURAGE AND STIMULATE INTEREST IN ARTS EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC EYE, AND WOULD ENSURE, THROUGH THE RAISING OF HONG KONG'S OWN PERFORMERS AND TEACHERS, AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF ARTISTIC TALENT TO FULFILL FUTURE NEEDS.
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+THE ACADEMY IS EXPECTED TO INTEGRATE EXISTING ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS THE HONG KONG ACADEMY OF BALLET, CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC AS WELL AS PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED PREMISES FOR OTHER PERFORMING BODIES, SUCH AS THE HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC, FOR TRAINING AND REHEARSALS,+ STATED MR LI.
MR LI ADDED THAT THE ACADEMY WILL BE MANAGED BY AN INDEPENDENT ORGANISATION, SUBVENTED BY GOVERNMENT, AND THAT A PROVISIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE ACADEMY WOULD SHORTLY BE APPOINTED.
MR ALEX S.C. WU HAS BEEN NOMINATED CHAIRMAN DESIGNATE OF THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL, WHICH, WHEN ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE, WILL ENGAGE STAFF FOR THE ACADEMY, DRAW UP PLANS FOR CURRICULA AND ESTABLISH ACCREDITATION AT AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL FOR ITS FUTURE STUDENTS.
MR LF ANNOUNCED THAT MR SIMON KWAN WILL BE FORMALLY APPOINTED BY THE JOCKEY CLUB AS THE MASTER ARCHITECT FOR THE PROJECT. HIS DESIGN WAS SELECTED BY THE PROJECT BOARD AND WILL REFLECT THE ARTISTIC REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACADEMY.
/MR KWAN