ART AND CULTURE
“I LOVE BALLET BECAUSE OF ITS BEAUTY, ROMANCE, ARTISTRY AND ENERGY, ALL ROLLED INTO TWO HOURS OF SENSORY JOY. BUT I BELIEVE BALLET GOES DEEPER THAN THAT. IT HAS THE POWER TO TOUCH THE HEART AND SOUL OF PEOPLE, TRANSFORMING THEIR LIVES AND LIFTING THEIR SPIRIT REGARDLESS OF THEIR SOCIAL OR ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS.” —MIRA YEH
“I BELIEVE THAT SUPPORT FOR THE ACADEMY IS A DIRECT INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE VIABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT PERFORMING ARTS BEING AN IMPORTANT INGREDIENT IN MAKING HONG KONG A HAPPY AND VIBRANT CITY, AND I SEE THE NEED TO ENCOURAGE AND RETAIN ITS BEST AND BRIGHTEST PERFORMERS AND TECHNICAL ARTISTS.” —SOPHIA KAO-LO
HONG KONG BALLET
The Hong Kong Ballet is a non-profit organisation that has been staging premier classical ballet performances since it was founded in 1979. The dance troupe, made up of almost 50 dancers from Hong Kong and around the world, masters both classical and contemporary dance pieces. It seeks to increase audience, community and philanthropic support through a wide array of events to raise funds and increase patronage, including its annual Ballet Ball and Christmas Benefit, which are overseen by Daisy Ho, the organisation’s chairman. hkballet.com
In The Diary:
The Hong Kong Ballet Ball, December 4; The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit, December 9.
New Campaigns:
This year the Hong Kong Ballet launched two new campaigns to raise funds for the company’s education and outreach programmes, supported by influential women who represent the next generation of ballet lovers, promoting the organisation’s events and fundraising efforts to a younger audience. Alison Chan-el Azar, Beatrice Ho, Antonia Li and Claudine Ying acted as ambassadors for the Beatles Preview Benefit in March, while in August organising committee chair Gillian Ho was joined by Cheryl Chan, Sharon Cheng and Samantha Kuo for Charity Night: Alice (in Wonderland).
How To Help?
Make a donation to one of the Hong Kong Ballet’s various funds; join one of its fundraising events; or support one of its many educational and community outreach projects.
HONG KONG ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS
While the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts is primarily a tertiary education institution that focuses on undergraduate and postgraduate education in the performing arts and entertainment, it also conducts outreach projects in schools and community centres that enrich Hong Kong communities through the arts. The academy has worked with young and elderly people, the disabled and disadvantaged, and ethnic minorities. With the goal of cultivating an appreciation of the arts from a young age, it also offers special junior programmes in music and dance. Over the past two years secondary school students have also had the opportunity to join a variety of activities through the academy’s Creative Journey programme. The annual Academy Festival from late April until early July aims to showcase the talents and vitality of students and faculty members, offering the public the chance to enjoy free performances. hkapa.edu
In The Diary:
The academy holds frequent concerts and other performances, including several that showcase the work of its students and other local arts organisations. A series of performances including dance, drama and Chinese opera run until mid-december and the academy’s annual ball is on December 8.
New Campaigns:
The academy held the Light Up with Music Concert for about 150 children with autism and their families in August.
How To Help?
Attend one of the academy’s many events, or hire its students and graduates when putting together creative projects of your own.
DESIGN TRUST
The Design Trust is a grant-funding platform founded in 2014 by some of the key members of Hong Kong’s design community, including Marisa Yiu and Alan Lo, and the design-focused charity Hong Kong Ambassadors of Design. The Design Trust has launched diverse research and design projects with a focus on Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta, as well as research grants and fellowships with world-renowned institutions to support emerging designers. It also runs events such as its Design Dialogue series and other public lectures. Its advisory council features notable names from the global art and design world such as Tom Dixon, Lars Nittve and Aric Chen. designtrust.hk
In the Diary:
The Ambassadors’ Ball, October/november.
New Campaigns:
The M+/design Trust Research Fellowship 2019 has expanded to two separate fellowships: a project focused on Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta, and a project related more broadly to Asia and closely in line with the curatorial position of M+. The organisation’s cross-disciplinary think tank, Design Trust Futures Studio, was recently granted four park sites by the government for the team to turn its conceptual micropark designs into reality.
How To Help?
Make a donation—donors of more than $5,000 will be recognised on the organisation’s list of patrons—or attend one of the many public events.
FIRST INITIATIVE FOUNDATION
Founded by Michelle Ong, the First Initiative Foundation is dedicated to supporting art, culture, heritage, education and mentorship in Hong Kong. It focuses on creating initiatives that uplift and benefit Hong Kong both locally and on the world stage.
Through its multitude of activities and special events, the foundation provides educational opportunities and community outreach initiatives. It funds scholarships with arts institutions both at home and abroad, from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and Hong Kong Polytechnic University to the Manhattan School of Music and the Lang Lang International Music Foundation, and organises visual and performing arts events. A remarkable local and international membership, which includes Lang Lang, Reneé Fleming, Eason Chan, Carina Lau and Kevin Kwan, supports its work. fif.org.hk
How To Help?
Attend a public special exhibition or concert, or support one of the foundation’s fundraising events or dinners.
ASIA ART ARCHIVE
The Asia Art Archive, an independent non-profit organisation, was established in 2000 when co-founders Claire Hsuvuchot and Johnson Chang recognised the need to document Asia’s recent artistic history. The archive is home to one of the most valuable collections of material on the topic, which is freely accessible to the public at the archive’s library or via its website. To complement its collection, the archive also organises educational programming, from talks to residencies for artists and other arts professionals. It hopes to both cultivate a community of arts professionals and to spread knowledge among the Hong Kong public. aaa.org.hk
In The Diary:
The Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa, December 15-28.
New Campaigns:
Asia Art Archive brought feminist art collective the Guerrilla Girls to Hong Kong for the first time during Art Basel, and held a Wikipedia Edit-a-thon in collaboration with M+ in order to create and improve Wikipedia articles about women artists in Asia. The organisation has also launched several new collections, including the Salima Hashmi Archive, the Out of Context Research Project and the Lee Wen Archive.
How To Help?
Adopt a book in the archive’s Library Collection with a minimum donation of $500; join its annual fundraiser; or become a patron and contribute to its endowment. ASIAN CULTURAL COUNCIL HONG KONG The Hong Kong arm of the Asian Cultural Council, which was founded in 1963 by John D Rockefeller III, came into being in 1986 thanks to a group of friends who were passionate about the arts, particularly the development of the local arts scene and making the arts more accessible. But the council is as much about cultural exchange as the arts. It also supports professionals in artsrelated fields, taking a long-term, individually tailored approach to that support.
The council’s three key components are its fellowship programme, its alumni network and its strategic development arm. Fellowships are awarded to talented individuals who then benefit from funding, resources and access to the council’s extensive network of creative individuals and institutions. The alumni network is an impressive community of artists, scholars and other arts professionals who collaborate and exchange ideas. Finally, the strategic development arm works to increase the council’s funding. Local and regional fellowship alumni include Mainland Chinese contemporary artist Cai Guoqiang and local ink artist Wucius Wong. Among the many supporters of the Hong Kong chapter are Robert and Chantal Miller, Douglas Young and Cissy Paowatari. asianculturalcouncil.org.hk
In The Diary:
The Asian Cultural Council Fellowship Programme, 2019.
How To Help?
Make a donation to support the council’s programmes.
“I’M SO PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS CHARITY. MICHELLE ONG IS A TRUE PHILANTHROPIST WHO IS MY MENTOR AND HAS TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT RUNNING A CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.” —DENISE LO “THE ACC FOR ME IS PRECISELY WHAT CULTURAL EXCHANGE SHOULD BE ABOUT: OPENING DOORS AND BUILDING BRIDGES. THE ACC ALSO CONNECTS WITH EMINENT INDIVIDUALS IN ALL AREAS OF THE ARTS. I HAVE ALWAYS FELT GREATLY INSPIRED BY THE ACC ALUMNI— AMAZING INDIVIDUALS SHAPING OUR FUTURE.” —DÉSIRÉE JEBSEN