ENG-1990 — Page 381

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

Urban Council Venues

Hong Kong Cultural Centre

The Hong Kong Cultural Centre entered its first year of operation after its opening by their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales in November 1989. With its 2 085- seat concert hall, 1 734-seat grand theatre, 300 to 500-seat studio theatre and ancillary facilities, the centre is fulfilling its task as the premiere cultural venue in the territory.

During the year, the Cultural Centre was the focal point of several major arts festivals including the 1990 Hong Kong Arts Festival, the 14th Hong Kong International Film Festival, the International Arts Carnival 1990 and the 13th Festival of Asian Arts.

Among the world-renowned artists and groups who performed in the centre were Wynton Marsalis, Kathleen Battle, the Labeque Sisters, Ann-Sophie Mutter, the Stuttgart Ballet, the Bolshoi Ballet, the Scottish Ballet, the Byakko-sha, I Musici, the Cleveland Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra.

The centre plays a very important role in promoting the local arts scene by staging performances by local artists and companies, as well as making available the venues for hire to cultural organisations.

To foster public interest in the performing arts, the centre organises free programmes regularly in the foyer and the piazza. Music, dance and entertainment programmes are staged every Wednesday lunchtime, Friday evening and Saturday afternoon throughout the year. Lunchtime organ recitals are also held on the first Monday of each month in the centre's concert hall.

A 'Friends' scheme was initiated to encourage regular audiences. Thousands of 'Friends' have supported the scheme and enjoyed exclusive benefits including guided tours, ticket and book discounts, lectures and dress rehearsals.

As the hub for cultural activities, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre enjoyed a very high usage rate during the year: 223 days for its concert hall, 301 days for its grand theatre and 220 days for its studio theatre. The 638 performances staged in the centre were attended by 55 000 patrons.

City Hall

Opened in 1962, the City Hall continues to be one of the Urban Council's major cultural centres and retains its popularity as an urban centre for the performing and visual arts in Hong Kong.

It was the major venue for the 14th Hong Kong International Film Festival, the International Arts Carnival, and the 13th Festival of Asian Arts, as well as featuring many events in the 1990 Hong Kong Arts Festival. Performances by local and international artists were also presented there by the council, various cultural organisations and im- presarios.

Facilities in the City Hall, which has a total area of 11 000 square metres, include a 1 448-seat concert hall, a 463-seat theatre, an exhibition hall and Chinese and Western restaurants in the Low Block.

The High Block accommodates the Hong Kong Museum of Art, an exhibition gallery, a 116-seat recital hall, two committee rooms, a library and a marriage registry. The two blocks are connected by the Memorial Garden.

During the year, 328 600 people attended 694 performances in the concert hall, the theatre and the recital hall. In addition, 106 exhibitions were held in the exhibition gallery.

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