XN000022-1992-12-10 — Page 8

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1992

REVIEW GIVES NEW IDEAS ON ARTS POLICY

GREATER PARTICIPATION BY THE ARTS COMMUNITY IN THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL ARTS AND MORE RELIANCE ON PRIVATE SPONSORSHIP IN FUNDING ARTS ACTIVITIES ARE AMONG A FEW INITIAL VIEWS FROM A GOVERNMENT REVIEW ON ARTS POLICY.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR JAMES SO, TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE PO LEUNG KUK DIRECTORS' LUNCHEON MEETING, MR SO SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD SUGGEST IN THE REVIEW, WAYS TO ENABLE THE ARTS COMMUNITY TO HAVE AN EASIER ACCESS TO INFORMATION ON AND A GREATER SAY IN MATTERS AFFECTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARTS IN HONG KONG.

MR SO ALSO SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MAINTAIN ITS ROLE AS A CATALYST FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTS. THIS, ΤΟ A LARGE EXTENT, HELPED CULTIVATE THE RIGHT SOCIAL AND CREATIVE SETTINGS FOR THE COLOURFUL VARIETY OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS IN THE TERRITORY.

HE ADDFD THAT RELEVANT LAWS AND REGULATIONS WERE BEING REVIEWED TO REMOVE ANY ANACHRONISM INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE FREEDOM OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS ENSHRINED IN THE BILL OF RIGHTS.

MR SO ALSO CALLED FOR MORE PATRONAGE AND NURTURE THE ESTABLISHED AS WELL AS THE BUDDING GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR ARTS WAS LIMITED.

SPONSORSHIP то ART FORMS AS

HE SAID EXTRA SOURCES OF FUNDING HAD BEEN SOUGHT THROUGH DONATION OF VARIOUS CORPORATIONS AND THE PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS OF SUCH ORGANISATIONS AS THE BUSINESS FOR ART AND THE MANY SUPPORT GROUPS SET UP BY THE VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL PERFORMING COMPANIES.

"WE ON OUR PART ARE MAKING IT MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL SPONSORSHIP OF THE ARTS, MR SO SAID.

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HE ADDED THAT THE COUNCIL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (CFPA) HAD SPENT ABOUT $1.7 MILLION UNDER A MATCHING GRANT SCHEME SINCE 1990.

THE SCHEME WAS INITIATED TO HELP PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS FIND ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF FUNDING. IT ALSO ENCOURAGED PRIVATE SECTOR TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SUPPORT OF ARTS.

AND

THE

MR SO SAID WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT MUNICIPAL COUNCILS, SEVEN LOCAL PROFESS LONAL COMPANIES HAD BEEN UP. THEY HAD EARNED FOR HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL PRESTIGE.

SAT

THE OPPA FUNDS AND SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT AND NURTURING OF

A NUMBER OF AMATEUR PERFORMING GROUPS.

HE SAID: "THE CONTINUED MAINTENANCE OF THE PROFESSIONAL PERFORMING COMPANIES AND THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF AMATEUR GROUPS WITH PUBLIC FUNDS SHOULD REMAIN OUR AIM IN THE 1990S."

/ON THE