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Recreation, Sport, Culture and the Arts

The council's Support Scheme for Arts and Cultural Sector, launched in March to help those affected by the pandemic, had subsidised more than 3,900 arts practitioners, 63 arts groups and over 550 arts projects by year end. Its Arts Go Digital Platform Scheme was launched in July to support artists and arts groups to develop digital and virtual programmes. Tenants of arts spaces operated by the council received a three-month rental waiver from February to April, and a rental reduction of 75 per cent for the rest of the year.

The council grooms artists, curators, arts administrators and other arts professionals by providing opportunities for training, cultural exchange, internship and attachment locally and abroad. In 2020, it offered 10 talent nurture schemes, including artistic internship schemes and training/attachments for arts administrators.

Large-scale promotional events, including the Hong Kong Arts Development Awards, were presented online or in other formats because of the pandemic. Online programmes were introduced for the Arts Ambassadors-in-School Scheme during school suspension. In addition, the council continued to work with M+ to co-present the International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale - Hong Kong Response Exhibition, and organised a series of online tours.

The council runs an Arts-in-School Partnership Scheme to foster cooperation between arts. groups and schools while promoting better use of school premises as arts spaces. Under the pandemic, some schools organised online workshops and performances, while other schools continued to open their premises for arts groups with appropriate public health measures. The council also operates one arts space each in Aberdeen and Tai Po, and two in Kwun Tong. In December, a fifth arts space opened in Lai Chi Kok.

Arts research and policy advocacy are part of the council's main tasks. Through an annual survey, it collects data on performing arts, visual arts, film and literary arts activities. Publications on the arts are produced yearly in collaboration with professional and academic groups.

Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts offers professional education, training and research facilities in the performing arts: Chinese opera, dance, drama, film and TV, music, and theatre and entertainment arts.

During 2020, 935 students enrolled in undergraduate and post-secondary programmes in the six performing arts disciplines. Another 134 students were pursuing master's degree programmes in dance, drama, film and TV, music, and theatre and entertainment arts. The academy also admitted more than 690 students to its junior programmes and over 3,100 students to its Extension and Continuing Education for Life programme.

Hong Kong Arts Centre

The self-financing Hong Kong Arts Centre promotes contemporary arts and culture. It features the works of local and overseas artists, and provides facilities for performances, films and exhibitions. The centre's Hong Kong Art School runs diploma and degree courses on fine art, and offers short programmes on a wide variety of arts subjects.

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