376 Recreation, Sport and the Arts
Major Cultural and Arts Events
As part of its effort to make the arts more accessible to the community and build audiences, in the autumn the Government implemented a programme named 'Creative October' that offered more than 200 events including concerts, theatre, dance, exhibitions, films and thematic festivals. Starting in November, a two-month long project under the title 'Budding Winter' introduced to the public a total of 93 works by budding artists and university arts students. These were shown in four popular parks and were supported by 282 guided tours for schools and members of the public.
Hong Kong Arts Development Council
Established in 1995, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) is dedicated to planning, promoting and supporting the broad development of the arts in Hong Kong, including the literary, performing and visual arts, film and media arts. Apart from encouraging public participation in the arts and advocating arts education, the HKADC also endeavours to advance arts criticism, raise the standards of arts administration and strengthen arts policy research.
One of the core tasks of the HKADC is funding the arts, with particular attention to emerging artists and small and medium sized arts groups. Apart from the existing one-year, multi-project, devolved and project grants, in 2009 a two-year grant was introduced to nurture the professional development of local arts organisations. An Internship Scheme was launched to groom talent and supply new blood to the industry, while the Sunbeam Theatre Xiqu Performance Venue Subsidy Scheme together with the launch of Jockey Club Performing Arts Venue Subsidy Scheme addressed the various needs of artists and arts groups at different stages of development.
Large-scale promotional events held in 2009 included the Hong Kong Arts. Development Awards 2008, the Recognition Ceremony of the 1st
1st Arts Ambassadors-in-School Scheme, and the 1st Fresh Wave Short Film Festival. These gave recognition to students, individuals and groups for their excellence and contribution to the arts, and promoted wider participation in arts activities.
The HKADC teamed up with a number of organisations in activities promoting the arts. These included: 'Seminar by Leading Literary Figures' and 'Critics' Recommendation' jointly held with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council at the Hong Kong Book Fair 2009; commissioned magazine articles on events organised or supported by the HKADC; and 'Arts Classmates', a radio programme jointly produced with the Education and Cultural Unit of Radio Television Hong Kong.
The Community Arts Activities Enhancement Scheme stimulated local arts activities by forging closer ties with community-based arts groups. The Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre Community Arts Promotion Scheme, which accepted
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