ENG-2003 — Page 468

RECREATION, SPORT AND THE ARTS

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HKADC pioneered an innovative lending service, allowing members of the public to borrow over 100 pieces of reproductions by 27 local artists. Besides individual and group borrowers, the council also encouraged schools to invite artists to host in-house arts appreciation activities and workshops in order to stimulate a greater interest in art among students. Over 100 pieces of artwork are lent out every month.

In April, the HKADC organised the 27th Hong Kong International Film Festival. During the 16-day programme, a total of 330 films from more than 40 countries were screened. Twenty selected films were also shown in Macau concurrently. In addition, 55 fringe events were organised including seminars, exhibitions and 'Meet the Audience' activities. More than 220 000 people attended the festival.

Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

Established by ordinance in 1984 with an autonomous governing council, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts offers professional training in music, dance, drama, technical arts, film and television and Chinese traditional theatre.

The academy secured the Bethanie, a Grade II historical building in Pok Fu Lam, as its second campus. Funding was approved by the Legislative Council's Finance Committee in March for restoration and conversion works on the building.

Although a number of planned overseas tours were postponed or cancelled due to the SARS outbreak, Academy students participated and won prizes in several important international piano competitions overseas in Ukraine, Germany and Italy. Students from the Cantonese Opera Programme and the Chinese Dance Department also won awards at competitions held in Guangdong and Chengdu during the year. From July to September, music students were invited by the Government's Economic and Trade Offices in Europe and Asia to perform there, helping to revive the image of Hong Kong.

The Academy's Extension and Continuing Education for Life (EXCEL) Unit celebrated its second anniversary. During the year, the unit enrolled 5 000 participants in over 200 courses across the spectrum of disciplines taught at the Academy.

Hong Kong Arts Centre

The Hong Kong Arts Centre was established by ordinance in 1974, with an objective to nurture creativity, and arts and cultural engagement through its two-pronged approach in promoting contemporary performing arts, visual arts as well as film and video arts and in providing lifelong and life-wide arts education.

Home to artists' bold and creative explorations, the Arts Centre featured numerous presentations in various art forms in 2003, including film and video arts programmes When Cinema Meets Fashion and the 9th Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards; visual arts programmes Cheng Ming in All Directions: 40 Years Arts at CUHK; and performing arts programmes WAVE 2003 and Little Asia Dance Exchange Network 2003.

Established in 2000, the Art School, which is the Art Centre's education arm, offers integrated programmes ranging from short courses to certificate, diploma, higher diploma, associate degree, first degree and higher degree courses, covering the humanities and five academic areas: fine arts, applied arts, media arts, arts education and arts management. There were more than 8 800 students enrolled in 2003. Activities included the Residency Project for International Renowned Visual Artists (Phase II): The Position of HK in the Cross-cultural Context of Contemporary Chinese