ENG-1988 — Page 348

RECREATION AND THE ARTS

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Khan and Ensemble, the Repertory Dance Theatre of Los Angeles and the Chengdo Theatre Company.

Five local groups - the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, the Hong Kong Ballet, the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre and the Chung Ying Theatre Company - also participated in this year's festival.

The festival also featured film shows, masterclasses, talks, workshops and a highly successful exhibition of works by the renowed Chinese painter Qi Bai-shi.

Festival of Asian Arts

The Festival of Asian Arts, one of the most important international cultural events in the region, was organised for the 12th time by the Urban Council. The 20-day celebrations, from October 14 to November 2, featured 11 overseas and seven local groups. Performers from Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey presented various facets of Asian culture ranging from contemporary and classical music to dance and dance theatre. In support of the 1988 World Music Days of the international Society of Contemporary Music, the council organised contemporary music and dance programmes by the City Contemporary Dance Company, the Tokyo Philhar- monic Orchestra, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition, an International Symposium on the Study of Mukam was organised with the Hong Kong Institute for the Promotion of Chinese Culture.

Performances took place at the City Hall Concert Hall, Theatre and Recital Hall, and the Ko Shan Theatre, with free performances in shopping arcades. Lectures and lecture- demonstrations by visiting artists helped promote appreciation and understanding of Asian performing arts. Three exhibitions and an Asian Arts Fair rounded off festival activities.

Hong Kong Festival Fringe

The Hong Kong Festival Fringe continued its growth from an annual festival seven years ago to a year-round arts umbrella organisation that puts special emphasis on cultivating and helping emerging artists, and generally encouraging contemporary arts in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Festival Fringe '88, the open festival of the arts, comprised a three-week programme of music, drama, dance, mime, street entertainment, art gallery tours, painting and photographic exhibitions. Some 250 000 people attended the performances, exhibitions and outdoor arts fairs.

The Fringe Club contains a 100-seat theatre, three rehearsal studios, a pottery workshop and showroom, a painting studio, exhibition space, a bar and offices. It has become a base for many performing and visual artists, and this year over 100 shows and performances were staged in the Fringe Club. One of the outstanding examples was a mime drama, ‘Six Chapters of a Floating Life' commissioned by the Urban Council and produced by the Fringe Club. It has so far toured Macau, Australia and Taiwan.

To reach out into the community, the Fringe Club helped organise scores of indoor and outdoor shows in nearly all the districts.

Hong Kong International Film Festival

The 12th Hong Kong International Film Festival, held from March 31 to April 15, was again a showcase for high quality local and international productions. Apart from 329 screenings, other activities organised included discussion sessions with visiting film-makers and producers and a poster and still exhibition. The entire festival was attended by more than 100 000 people.