ENG-2012 — Page 386

19

Recreation, Sport and the Arts

identify sporting talent and raise sporting standards. It works closely with the District Councils (DCs), the National Sports Associations under the auspices of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, District Sports Associations, and schools to promote sport-for- all and encourage everyone to participate in sports and recreational activities.

The Environment

The LCSD plants shrubs, trees and flowers in parks, playgrounds and along roadsides, implementing the Government's 'greening' policy and beautifying the environment. It also organises educational and community activities to increase public awareness of the importance of environmentally friendly living.

The Arts

The Government's policy is to provide an environment conducive to artistic expression and creation that encourages free participation in all aspects of cultural life.

Government Funding Support for Culture and the Arts

Chart 1

Provision for Arts and Culture 2011/12

Arts Development Fund 0.11 per cent ($3.17 million)

Others

2.64 per cent ($77.6 million)

Cantonese Opera Development Fund 0.33 per cent ($9.7 million)

Public Libraries & Activities 26.6 per cent ($783.4 million)

Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

8.02 per cent ($236.2 million)

Hong Kong Arts Development Council (including $96.5 million recurrent

funding +$26.1 million from Arts and Sport Development Fund)

4.16 per cent ($122.6 million)

Nine Major Performing Arts Groups 8.97 per cent ($264.2 million)

Public Heritage,

Museums & Exhibitions

18.37 per cent ($540.9 million)

Public Performing

Arts Venues & Programmes (including subvention to Hong Kong Arts Festival) 30.8 per cent ($907.1 million)

(Note: The Government's total expenditure on arts and culture in 2011-12 was $2.94 billion)

Recurrent Funding, Arts and Sport Development Fund and Cantonese Opera Development Fund

In 2011-12, the Government earmarked $2.94 billion (not including capital works expenditure) for supporting arts groups, arts education and promotion, and administrative costs. The investment returns generated by $1.5 billion injected as seed money into the arts portion of the Arts and Sport Development Fund in 2010-11 are used to subsidise the long-term development of the arts and culture. The 'Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme' disburses around $30 million annually in the form of 'Springboard Grants' with matching elements and 'Project Grants. The scheme seeks to develop the capacity of local artists and arts groups and to promote public-private partnership in local arts development. Eighteen proposals were selected for grants in the first round funding exercise from 2012 to 2014.

322