ENG-1999 — Page 427

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

Council. The councils were responsible for building and operating games halls, sports grounds, swimming pools, parks, museums, libraries and other cultural and recreational venues. They also organised and supported a variety of cultural, sporting and recreational programmes and events.

Hong Kong Arts Development Council

The implementation of the Three-Year and One-Year Grant schemes, and improvement on the Project Grants System were the major tasks of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council in 1999. The Three-Year Grants scheme was intended to give major arts organisations longer and fixed term support to fulfil their strategic visions, while the purpose of the One-Year Grants scheme was to create a more dynamic and favourable environment for the development of 'second-tier' companies in different art forms.

After lengthy and detailed study, the Examiners System was established in January. The examiners were to assist the council members in assessing applications for Project Grants.

Through the support of Home Affairs Bureau and Lands Department, six vacant residential flats in Yau Ma Tei were turned into studios for visual artists. The project the Shanghai Street Artspace aimed at giving local artists more exhibition space to display their works and, thus, to promote the works of local artists.

Throughout the year, the ADC made several submissions to the Legislative Council's Panel on Home Affairs on its expectations regarding future arts infrastructure and long-term cultural policy. Position papers on aims of education and review of television policy were also prepared.

Performing Arts Groups

Chung Ying Theatre

Chung Ying Theatre Company continued to focus on local new play development, theatre-in-education and audience building programmes. Besides visiting schools and the community with specially designed programmes and workshops, the company staged several extremely well received productions (including Aladdin and The Merchant of China) at the beginning of 1999, during the Regional Council Festival and the Hong Kong Arts Festival. Other performances in the year included Journey of the Heart, The Quick Change Room and A Tale of An Evanescent Mortal.

City Contemporary Dance Company

The City Contemporary Dance Company celebrated its 20th anniversary in 1999. With an objective of developing talented dancers and furthering creative dance for contemporary China, the company produced seven innovative dance programmes and represented Hong Kong in tours to Beijing, Guangzhou and Macao as well as overseas to Israel, Germany and Italy. Apart from running its own modern dance school and reaching out to local communities, the company also organised education and outreach programmes in the Mainland.

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