ENG-1997 — Page 435

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

Arts in Blossom Scheme continues to give budding and amateur artists the chance to perform in open spaces adjacent to the council's major civic centres.

Visual Arts

The council's Best of Visual Arts Scheme enables local visual artists to exhibit their works at major civic centres. Works by local visual artists and art organisations are presented in one-person or joint exhibitions, featuring painting, calligraphy, sculpture, ceramics and print-making. In all, 14 exhibitions were presented, attracting 8 524 viewers in 1997.

Venues

Most venues for cultural events and sports and recreational activities are built and managed by the Provisional Urban and Regional Councils. They range from major venues such as the Hong Kong Stadium and Hong Kong Cultural Centre to smaller indoor recreation centres and community arts centres.

Provisional Urban Council Venues

Hong Kong Stadium

The Hong Kong Stadium was redeveloped with a donation of $850 million from the Hong Kong Jockey Club. This 40 000-seat outdoor arena can stage world-class sports and entertainment events.

The stadium opened in 1994 and has become Hong Kong's most popular outdoor stadium. In 1997, more than 754 500 spectators participated in 49 events at the stadium.

Hong Kong Cultural Centre

Since its inauguration in 1989, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre has established itself as a major performing arts venue attracting leading artists from all over the world. It has three major performing venues: the Concert Hall, the Grand Theatre and the Studio Theatre with seating capacities of 2 085, 1 734 and 534 respectively. In 1997, 650 500 people attended 822 performances in these venues.

Highlights of the year included performances by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, China National Symphony Orchestra, Mark Morris Dance Group, Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal, Cheryl Studer, Mischa Maisky, Ivo Pogorelich and Ann-Sophie Mutter. The centre also played host to a series of programmes celebrating the reunification of Hong Kong with China including the Hong Kong Extravaganza '97 and '97 Reunification Music Festival.

The centre reaches out to the community. Special free audience-building programmes, education programmes and a Friends Scheme are organised to promote public interest in the performing arts.

City Hall

For 35 years since its opening in 1962, the City Hall has established itself as the hub of cultural activities. Major performing arts and exhibition events were held throughout the year at the City Hall, which included a series of special programmes celebrating the reunification of Hong Kong with China. Other programme highlights included the Hong Kong International Film Festival, the Philharmonia Quartet

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