Arts paper criticised
AMAJORITY of artists, educators and professionals in the field of visual arts have strongly criticised parts of the newly published Arts Policy Paper at a recent meeting in the Hongkong Teachers' Centre.
Co-ordinated by art critic Andrew Lam Hon-kin, the Joint Conference on Visual Arts allowed every member at the meeting to voice his or her ideas about the paper.
The Arts Policy Paper, which examines the past and future development of visual arts in Hongkong, was drafted by an internal study group appointed by the Recreation and Cultural Branch of the Government.
According to most of the participants, the paper is full of inadequacies and loopholes.
District Board member Chan King-wong suggested that the re-allocation of social resources to visual arts activities and claimed that artists should form a working party to fight for more sponsorship.
Mr Fung Wing-kei, an architect and Chinese ink painter, said it would be difficult to find private funding for the visual arts. What they needed was a centralised agency to co-ordinate such funding.
''A council for funding or co-ordinating activities for private funding should be set up,'' he said. ''Local artists' works like sculptures should be given prominence by having them displayed in public buildings and parks.'' While some agreed that an academy should be formed, they also thought that scholarships for overseas studies were a must, and local exhibitions should be promoted and publicised abroad.
Video and installation artist Sydney Poon said the present Council for Performing Arts' sponsoring policy was unsatisfactory.
Mr Poon suggested that the proposed Arts Council be controlled by independent artistic groups and there should be an agency to look after its administration. Its administrative procedure should be opened to public scrutiny and be less bureaucratic.
Art educator Kan Tai-keung said adult art education in Hongkong should be catered for as it would offer a second or alternative platform for professional training in this field.
Local art education problems such as the subject of ''fine arts'' being treated as ''entertainment'' or an ''insignificant subject'' when compared with others in school, and the number of fine arts teachers in primary schools not receiving formal professional training were some of the topics discussed.
Mr Lam felt the consultation Arts Policy Review Report had both strengths and weaknesses.
The strength is that the Government is going to consider the development of visual arts as an integral part of the cultural prosperity of Hongkong.
The weakness is that the report does not explain fully how the council will be funded. Mr Lam said he was worried whether visual arts representatives could be appointed to the relevant committee of the council.
