ENG-1996 — Page 448

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

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Production Company, the Chung Ying Theatre Company and the Ming Ri Theatre Company in new productions. In 1996, the council presented 594 programmes, reaching a total audience of 28 150.

International Children's Arts Festival

The International Children's Arts Festival, which entered its seventh year in 1996, is an annual summer event organised by the Regional Council for the young and family audience. Artists participating in the 1996 festival included Lazer Vaudeville, Funny Stuff and Cashore Marionettes from the United States, and Zhanjiang Xiao Kong Que Cantonese Opera Troupe from China.

Other programmes included Peter Pan, by the Hong Kong Ballet, The Jungle Boy, by the Ming Ri Theatre Company, and shows presented by the Yangzhou Puppet Theatre Company from China, the Hong Kong Symphony Orchestra and the Teen Choi Family & Friends. Workshops were held on dance, music games, magic, circus and art and handicraft. The festival's total of three Fun Days, 55 workshops and 42 stage performances drew an audience of 26 879.

Regional Council 10th Anniversary

A wide scope of 37 cultural programmes was presented to celebrate the council's 10th Anniversary. Highlights included the Budapest Festival Orchestra from Hungary, Tango Pasion from Argentina, the Moscow Boy's and Men's Choir, Ballet Antonio Gades from Spain, Yunnan Provincial Songs and Dances Troupe, and the Gaozhou Cantonese Puppet Play Troupe from China. Other performances by local artists in the festival included Chung Ying Theatre Company, Golden Glory Cantonese Opera Troupe, and the legendary pop star Tsin Ting. The programmes attracted a total of 27 526 people.

Audience Building Projects

Audience building efforts were enhanced in the year. Besides the animateur schemes on modern dance and drama for students co-presented with the City Contemporary Dance Company and the Prospects Theatre Company respectively, a new scheme on multi-media arts in collaboration with the Zuni Icosahedron was also put on trial. A total of 38 schools and 793 students joined the three schemes.

The 'Friends of Regional Council Town Halls Scheme' continues to build up supporters for the three major civic centres while promoting their interests in the performing arts and enriching their quality of life through cultural experience. It attracted a total of 2 386 members during the year.

District Arts Support Scheme

The District Arts Support Scheme continues to provide greater support to non-profit making cultural organisations in the form of free use of civic centre facilities and/or a cash subsidy for the performing, visual and literary arts activities organised by district organisations. In all, 78 cultural programmes, 10 artists-in-residence projects, five exhibitions and 43 training classes were held under this scheme in 1996.

Entertainment Programmes

The council regularly presents free cultural and entertainment programmes in community halls, playgrounds and open space areas for residents in the vicinity with