ENG-2017 — Page 385

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Recreation, Sport, Culture and the Arts.

their partners, expand the audience base, optimise usage of venue facilities, develop marketing strategies, facilitate arts sponsorship, and encourage community involvement in the arts. The venue partners organised 654 stage performances in conjunction with 972 educational, promotional and audience-building activities in 2017.

West Kowloon Cultural District

The West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD), a 40-hectare prime waterfront site, is being developed as an integrated arts and cultural district with world-class facilities. Its aim is to promote the development of arts and culture, meet the growing cultural needs of the public and strengthen Hong Kong's position as an international arts and cultural metropolis.

The facilities that constitute the WKCD steadily took shape in 2017: the building structure of the Xiqu Centre was completed in April and interior fitting-out works were in progress; construction of the M+ visual culture museum and Art Park was ongoing; Freespace, including a black-box theatre and an outdoor stage, was topped out in July and works continued inside the building; foundation works for the Lyric Theatre Complex were substantially completed; and the scheme design of the Hong Kong Palace Museum was completed and the foundation work tendered out. The temporary Nursery Park remains open for public enjoyment while works in the rest of the Art Park continue.

To nurture new audiences and raise awareness of the project, the WKCD Authority initiated and co-presented events that included Rising Stars of Cantonese Opera, Tea House Theatre Taster, an Experimental Chinese Opera Series, four exhibitions held at the M+ Pavilion and a new season of Freespace Happening at the Nursery Park from September featuring free outdoor performing arts.

Urbtix

The Urban Ticketing System, or Urbtix, is one of the most widely used computerised ticketing systems locally. It provides ticketing services through counter booking at over 30 outlets, and via the internet, telephone and a mobile application. In 2017, the system issued 3.85 million tickets with proceeds of more than $1.03 billion.

Culture and Arts Organisations

Hong Kong Arts Development Council

The Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) operates grant schemes and plans, promotes, funds and supports the overall development of the arts.

The council grooms talented people, arts administrators and budding artists by providing opportunities for them to receive training, cultural exchanges, internships and attachments. both in Hong Kong and abroad. In 2017, it offered over 10 talent nurturing schemes, including Arts Administration Scholarships (Local/Overseas) and the Professional Attachment at Summerhall, Edinburgh (Pilot Scheme).

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