ENG-2012 — Page 392

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Recreation, Sport and the Arts

Arts Administrator Trainee Programme

The arts administrator trainee scheme aims to nurture a pool of arts administrators to support the development of Hong Kong's cultural software. The LCSD and its venue partners, comprising performing groups of every size, give trainees on-the-job training. LCSD trainees are posted to different offices of the department to learn about venue operations, facility management, event organising and promotion, and related subjects. The number of trainees from thirteen to eighteen was increased in 2012. Separately, the LCSD also sponsored its venue partners to engage trainees to learn about the management of performing arts groups.

Indoor Stadia

The 12,500-seat Hong Kong Coliseum and the 3,500-seat Queen Elizabeth Stadium are the largest and most popular multi-purpose indoor stadia in Hong Kong. With their flexible stage and seating configurations, the two stadia have played host to many international and local sports events, spectacular entertainment programmes, pop concerts and celebratory functions. In 2012, 53 and 129 events were staged in the coliseum and the stadium, attracting over 1,445,000 and 344,000 spectators respectively.

West Kowloon Cultural District

The West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD), a 40-hectare prime waterfront site at the southern tip of the West Kowloon Reclamation Area, is being developed as an integrated arts and cultural district with world-class facilities. It aims to support the long-term development of the arts and culture, foster the organic growth of cultural industries, and promote Hong Kong as an international metropolis with a vibrant arts and cultural landscape. A mix of arts and cultural facilities will come on stream in phases starting from 2015-16.

The draft WKCD Development Plan (DP), based on the 'City Park' concept by Foster + Partners, was gazetted under the Town Planning Ordinance in March 2012 for public inspection and making representations. In September, the Town Planning Board completed consideration of representations and the submission of the draft DP to the Executive Council in December takes the statutory planning process to its final stage.

The WKCD Authority is arranging design competitions for a number of arts and cultural facilities. In December, BTA & RLP Company Ltd's entry was selected as the design for the Xiqu Centre, one of the WKCD's landmark cultural venues. The teams shortlisted to participate in the design. competition for M+, a museum focusing on 20th and 21st century visual culture, have also been selected.

The WKCD Authority will continue to nurture local arts talents and build audiences in collaboration with arts groups, education institutions and local communities to dovetail with the commissioning of the WKCD's arts and cultural facilities.

URBTIX

URBTIX (Urban Ticketing System) is the most widely-used computerised ticketing system in Hong Kong. It offers a variety of convenient and reliable ticketing services to the public through

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