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THURSDAY, ARTI 23, 1992
MATCHING GRANT SCHEME STIMULATES BUSINESS SPONSORSHIP IN ARTS
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THE MATCHING GRANT SCHEME OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (CFPA) HAS GENERATED SOME $2.4 MILLION OF BUSINESS SPONSORSHIP OF THE ARTS SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1990.
SPEAKING AT A RECEPTION BEFORE PRESENTING COMMEMORATIVE CERTIFICATES TO SPONSORS TODAY (THURSDAY), THE COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, PROFESSOR WANG GUNGWU, SAID 24 SPONSORS SUPPORTED THE ARTS UNDER THE SCHEME LAST YEAR, THREE TIMES THE NUMBER FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
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"I AM PARTICULARLY PLEASED THAT THREE OF THE SPONSORS IN 1990- 91 CONTINUED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE SCHEME LAST YEAR, PROFESSOR WANG SAID.
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THE CHAIRMAN SAID SIMPLIER ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE TO THE SCHEME FOR BUSINESS SPONSORS.
THESE CHANGES INCLUDE:
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STREAMLINING THE PAPERWORK;
SPONSORSHIP IN KIND, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT TO ARTS GROUPS, IS ELIGIBLE FOR MATCHING GRANTS;
* BUSINESS SPONSORS WILL DETERMINE THE BENEFITS OF SPONSORSHIP, AND THE WAY IN WHICH THE MATCHING GRANTS WILL BE SPENT SHALL NOT BE SPECIFIED;
RECREATION
THE COUNCIL WILL ISSUE LETTERS OF ELIGIBILITY TO ARTS GROUPS WITH A TRACK RECORD TO HELP THEM IN THEIR APPROACHES ΤΟ POTENTIAL SPONSORS.
ALSO ADDRESSING AT THE CEREMONY WAS THE SECRETARY FOR AND CULTURE, MR JAMES SO, WHO STRESSED THAT NEITHER THE GOVERNMENT NOR THE COUNCIL SAW BUSINESS SPONSORSHIP AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC FUNDING OF THE ARTS.
THE SECRETARY SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR ARTS HAD RISEN SHARPLY OVER THE YEARS.
THE
"THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET ROSE BY 134 PER CENT FROM 1985-86 TO 1990-91," MR SO SAID.
"THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT TO THE ARTS, PARTICULARLY NEW AND EMERGING GROUPS, THEREBY COMPLEMENTING THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS."
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MR SO SAID WITH THE COMPLETION OF A SUBSTANTIAL PROGRAMME OF INVESTMENT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF HONG KONG'S CULTURAL SCENE, THE TIME WAS RIPE FOR A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS то DEVELOP THE UNIQUE EXPRESSION FOR HONG KONG'S IDENTITY WHICH THE PERFORMING ARTS PROVIDED.
/353 SSORS