ENG-2015 — Page 381

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Recreation, Sport, Culture and the Arts

Arts and Sport Development Fund

Investment returns generated by seed money of $1.5 billion injected into the arts portion of the Arts and Sport Development Fund in 2010-11 are used to subsidise long-term arts and cultural development. 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. It has financed 60 projects. Another $30 million is earmarked annually from the arts portion of the fund to support projects initiated or recommended by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.

Cantonese Opera Development Fund

The Cantonese Opera Development Fund helps to preserve, promote and develop Cantonese opera. In 2015, it granted about $8.3 million to support various projects, including the Venue Partnership Scheme at Yau Ma Tei Theatre, Yuen Long Theatre and Sha Tin Town Hall.

Arts Development Fund

The Arts Development Fund was set up with a government contribution of $30 million in 1993 to enhance the development of the arts and has been used mainly to support cultural exchanges since 2001. In 2015, $3.2 million was approved for 61 such projects.

Lord Wilson Heritage Trust

The Lord Wilson Heritage Trust provides funding support to community organisations and individuals to undertake heritage activities and research projects. Nineteen heritage-related projects worth about $4.24 million were approved in 2015.

Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund awards scholarships to outstanding talent to pursue further studies in music or dance outside the territory. Four scholarships worth about $1.69 million were awarded in 2015.

Culture and Arts Venues

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department manages 16 performance venues.

Hong Kong Cultural Centre

Opened in 1989, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre has established itself as the territory's premier performing arts facility, attracting leading artists from around the world. It has three main performance venues: the Concert Hall, seating 2,019 patrons, the Grand Theatre, 1,734, and the Studio Theatre, up to 496. In 2015, more than 618,000 people attended 704 performances.

Hong Kong City Hall

Hong Kong City Hall opened in 1962 as the territory's first purpose-built major civic centre. Its main facilities include a 1,434-seat concert hall, a 463-seat theatre and an exhibition hall. In 2015, 588 events were held in the concert hall and the theatre, attracting 360,575 people.

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