ENG-2018 — Page 389

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Recreation, Sport, Culture and the Arts

Motion, Dance On, From Puppets to Humans, Cheers!, New Energy, Re-run Run Shows and Culture of the Silk Road.

The department also organised more than 520 film and media arts programmes accompanied by extension activities, attracting over 70,000 people, as well as 24 major carnivals and territory- wide activities and 611 free district art shows, drawing over 1,059,900 people.

Arts Education and Audience-building Projects

In 2018, the department organised 1,149 arts education and audience-building activities in schools, community halls and other public venues to promote the arts and encourage participation in cultural activities.

The department also sought to motivate students to engage in arts and cultural activities by extending its collaboration with the Education Bureau in designing arts education programmes which tied in with the school curriculum. Two themes were set for the 2018 Community Cultural Ambassador Scheme: 'Performing arts project themed with district characteristics' and 'Performing arts project designed for children'

Greater Bay Area Cultural Exchange

The department is supporting more local arts groups and artists to take their art to cities within the Greater Bay Area. In 2018, a collaboration network with major venue operators in the Greater Bay Area was established and 18 performances and cultural exchange activities were presented in five cities, attracting over 15,000 people.

Major Culture and Arts Events

Hong Kong Arts Festival

The 46th Hong Kong Arts Festival presented 15 world premieres and 13 Asian premieres. Highlights included the festival opening performance of Anna Karenina by Ballett Zürich, Beijing opera Princess Changping by the China National Peking Opera Company, Pelléas et Mélisande by Welsh National Opera, the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia 'Evgeny Svetlanov, Whipped Cream by American Ballet Theatre and the festival finale by the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and Estonian National Male Choir. The festival showcased 130 performances, an exhibition and about 470 outreach and educational events, attracting over 300,000 people.

International Arts Carnival

The department's annual International Arts Carnival in July and August opened with Hansel and Gretel by the Scottish Ballet. Over 87,000 people attended the carnival's 308 events featuring ballet, music theatre for babies, a multimedia circus, magic and shadow puppetry.

New Vision Arts Festival

The department's ninth edition of the New Vision Arts Festival presented cutting-edge shows including Tree of Codes and AquaSonic, as well as immersive activities under a mini-festival, ArtSnap. The 196 events attracted more than 75,000 people.

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