ENG-2009 — Page 466

Kong Cultural Centre and the 10th Anniversary of the Kwai Tsing Theatre. Highlights of the celebratory programmes at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre included concerts by Yo-Yo Ma and John Williams, who appeared in the opening festival of the centre 20 years ago, Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Blatica, performances by local artists. and arts groups including Mozart's Magic Flute produced by Opera Hong Kong, Piano Pals Singing Happy Birthday by Gabriel Kwok, Nancy Loo, Eva Lue and Tam Ka-kit, the four artists gathering again after 20 years to celebrate the centre's birthday, The Exquisite Charm of Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera by Tang Yuen-ha and Diary VI Applause... by dance artist Mui Cheuk-yin. Programmes to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Kwai Tsing Theatre included performances by the National Dance Company of Korea and the Edward Lam Dance Theatre, as well as Excerpts of Cantonese Operas by Tong Tik-sang performed by Cantonese opera

stars.

An array of cultural and ethnic programmes was also organised in support of the Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games (EAG) with performances by artists from the countries and regions participating in the Games, including Ondekoza from Japan, U-Theatre from Taiwan and Tian Haojiang in Guo Wenjing's opera Poet Li Bai. Other highlights included an EAG Cultural Extravaganza and a local theatre series, 'Passion of Body Art'. There were also large-scale free outdoor events including a Cantonese Opera Day and a Dance Day.

The LCSD supports local artists including small and medium art groups in showcasing their talent in a variety of presentations under different themes. Local artists showed their vitality and creativity in many events throughout the year.

In 2009, for its cultural programmes the LCSD continued to explore the use of independent performance venues in addition to those under its management. These included Nan Lian Garden, Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity, the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre in Shek Kip Mei, Cattle Depot, the Jockey Club Auditorium at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts. Thematic programmes were devised to enhance the identity and image of these performance spaces, thus attracting audience to visit.

The LCSD also assists major local film events, including the annual Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony, by providing organisers with free venues and ticketing services.

In 2009 the department continued its collaboration with consulates-general and foreign cultural institutions in sponsoring cultural exchanges.

Entertainment Programmes

During the year, 640 carnivals and free district entertainment programmes covering a variety of performing arts were organised by the LCSD and attracted more than 1 014 000 spectators.

Outdoor extravaganzas included Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn lantern carnivals, featuring ethnic song and dance performances by arts groups from Zhejiang and Yunnan, and a New Year's Eve Countdown Carnival. For the first time,