The first Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo - showcasing the vibrant local and international performing arts ecosystem and creating an international capital for cultural exchanges

Description

　　The Hong Kong Arts Development Council (ADC) presents the first Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (EXPO), which will be held in Hong Kong from October 14 to 18, 2024. As the flagship platform for the performing arts, the Expo will strive to promote Hong Kong to become a center for cultural and artistic exchanges between China and foreign countries, bringing together local, Chinese and global art professionals to promote cultural and artistic exchanges. Through a variety of performances, workshops and collaborations, the expo promotes participants' understanding of different cultures, further inspires more possibilities and encourages artistic collaboration.

　　Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo’s diverse activities showcase the vibrant side of Hong Kong and are specially curated for art lovers and industry insiders. The expo invites cultural enthusiasts to participate in major exhibition programs and international high-quality performances to experience a variety of music, dance, drama and other programs. Tickets for the event will go on sale on September 2 at City Ticketing Network. The Expo also features "Surface Exploration", which provides a platform for Hong Kong's small and medium-sized performing arts groups to showcase their talents, and invites the public to support local art workers. This event is free and open to the public, and pre-registration is required. Art practitioners, scholars and experts can purchase expo passes and participate in a series of cultural experiences, project promotions, lectures and other activities, and interact with art workers from all over the world.

Expo Highlights

Entertainment program

　　Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo collaborates with major international arts organizations to jointly create three exciting performances and exhibitions to gather local and international talents:

"1014" - Di Shui Nanyin

　　Artists from Hong Kong and Mainland China gathered together to create a cross-border music production combining Dishui Nanyin (Chinese classical music and rap art originated in the late Qing Dynasty) and jazz, using music and singing to express mankind's longing and doubts about the future.

"Song of Glass" is co-created by Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo and Ishikawa Prefectural Concert Hall

　　Hong Kong composer Kao Shizhang collaborated with Japanese set designer Hiroko Matsuro to create a theatrical experience that combines music, fragrance and perfume bottles. Accompanying this experience is original music performed by oboe, piano and string quartet, allowing the audience to coordinate with different movements as they move through the scenes.

"Journey of Discovery" is co-produced by the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo and the National Arts Council (South Africa)

　　Famous Hong Kong music director Ng Cheuk-yin led South Africa and Hong KongYoung musicians work together to create a unique music journey. The performance integrates the diverse cultural backgrounds and music styles of the two places to explore more possibilities in music and lead the audience to explore the world together.

　　In addition, there are many major performing arts groups and organizations in Hong Kong, including Chung Ying Theater Company, City Contemporary Dance Company, Hong Kong Arts Festival, Hong Kong Ballet, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Hong Kong Dance Company, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Hong Kong Repertory Theater, and Hong Kong Sinfonietta , the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and the Xiqu Center of the West Kowloon Cultural District will stage its classic performing arts works in major theaters in Hong Kong.

International high-quality performances

　　Beginning in August 2023, the expo will openly solicit proposals for "International Quality Performances" from more than 300 artists and groups around the world, from which 15 projects will be selected, 5 of which are from China, including performances by Hong Kong art groups and artists. This carefully planned international boutique performance will be staged on various distinctive stages in Hong Kong, ranging from large-scale projects to independent productions, including drama, dance, music, opera and diverse cross-media arts.

　　High-quality international performances include Dancing on the Bench by Denmark's Uppercut Dance Theatre. It is a dance performance with the theme of an ever-changing bench, which combines modern dance, break dance, capoeira and hip-hop to examine human beings. Relationships with people; "Fishing for Pine", starring local musicians Lu Yijun and Liu Rongfeng, uses a cabaret style, mixed with original music and humorous dialogue, to sing about the life and memories of Hong Kong, a melting pot of culture; and "Maybe, Or, If", by a famous Latin American clown actorGabriela Muñoz's emotional performance revolves around the theme of "loneliness" and interprets the waiting and expectation for "Mr. Right".

Surface exploration

　　Hong Kong combines Chinese tradition and Western culture, developing a unique multiculturalism under the fusion of Chinese and Western cultures. This project promotion event provides a platform for local small and medium-sized performing arts groups and individual artists to showcase their talents, deepen connections with international industry participants at the Expo, and explore opportunities for joint collaboration. This event is free and open to the public, pre-registration is required.

　　The expo cooperates with various venues in Hong Kong to bring a series of exciting performances and related activities. Most activities will be held in the West Kowloon Cultural District, which is fully equipped with performance venues, museums, public lawns with views of Victoria Harbor, and catering services. In addition, some events will be held at other prestigious venues, including the Hong Kong Cultural Center, Tai Kwun, Asia Society Hong Kong Center and the Hong Kong Arts Centre.

　　The first Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo provides a high-profile platform that consolidates Hong Kong’s status as a vibrant international cultural exchange center and allows participants to further appreciate the uniqueness of Hong Kong’s fusion of Chinese and Western cultures. By connecting the global arts community and providing a space for creativity, the Expo is committed to pioneering the future of the performing arts industry. The expo hopes that participants will stimulate their thinking, explore new horizons of creativity, and help promote the vigorous and sustainable development of the art ecosystem within and outside Asia.