ENG-1990 — Page 380

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

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First introduced in 1988, the District Festivals Subsidy Scheme enables district organisations to organise and promote recreation, sports and cultural activities most suited to their own districts. Under the scheme, district bodies undertake the organisation of the activities while the council supports them through cash grants. In 1990, a total of 42 district events, which attracted 590 000 people, were organised with subsidies totalling $4 million.

International Children's Arts Festival

The Regional Council's International Children's Arts Festival 1990, spread over 12 weeks in the summer, offered a total of 34 performances including a potpourri of art forms like choral concerts, dance, musical, puppet and mask shows as well as exhibitions.

The highlight of the festival was a series of choral concerts by three overseas children's choirs; namely the Munich Toelz Boys' Choir, the Boys' Choir of Harlem, and the Moscow Radost Children's Choir. In addition, several local groups performed in productions of favourite children's stories. Among these were a dance drama entitled Snow White by the Cultural and Educational Association of the New Towns, a musical, Ne-zha Stirs up the Sea by the Hong Kong Children's Choir and An Adventure to the West by Anonymity Dramatic Club. A total of 28 970 people participated in the festival's programmes.

Cantonese Opera

The popularity of Cantonese opera in the New Territories has been revived through the efforts of dedicated performing artists and the Regional Council.

Besides regular presentations of established Cantonese opera troupes, an annual festival known as Cantonese Opera Parade was organised by the council to provide opportunities for young artists to gain more performing experience and to improve their skill.

Providing financial and logistical support, the council has enabled local amateur troupes to inject new energy into this traditional art form. In 1990, a total of 71 performances were given by 19 troupes attracting an audience of 63 300.

Visual Arts

In March, the Regional Council introduced The Best of Visual Arts scheme to provide more opportunities for local visual artists to exhibit their works in major civic centres.

Under the scheme, local artists and art organisations are able to apply for one-person or joint exhibitions of paintings, calligraphy, sculpture, ceramics and print-making, covering Chinese, Western, traditional or contemporary styles.

A significant exhibition presented in November during the council's biennial festival featured over 78 works by renowned Chinese painter Professor Chao Shao-an. The nine- day exhibition drew an attendance of 4 530.

Besides promoting visual arts, the council also purchased representative works of art by established local artists with a view to building up a collection of indigenous works of art.

Venues

Most performance venues are built and operated by the Urban and Regional Councils, ranging from major facilities such as the Hong Kong Cultural Centre to smaller multi- purpose centres used for district-based cultural activities. Both councils have programmes to progressively increase and improve the venues available for cultural and other uses.