Leanne Nicholls, the founder and artistic director of the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong, is in two minds about a new arts grant that promises to transform her 12-year-old troupe.
Under the Springboard Grants, launched by the Home Affairs Bureau last month, for every HK$1 she can raise for the orchestra, the government will hand over up to HK$2. It means the City Chamber Orchestra might receive a public subsidy of up to HK$7.5 million in the next five years. That's twice as much as the group would get under its existing funding arrangement with the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (ADC).
It sounds great. Yet Nicholls says there are 'cracks and down points' that suggest the grant programme hasn't been thoroughly thought through.
'It is, initially, for two years and we can apply for another three years. But what happens after that?' Nicholls asks.
Officials say the grant is designed primarily to encourage medium-sized, non-profit arts groups - for years neglected in funding schemes - to raise funds through private sponsorship. It is not intended to be a permanent subsidy (hence 'Springboard').
Set up in March by the Advisory Committee on Arts Development, it falls under the Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme and reflects the government's growing commitment to support the long-term development of the arts. The new project grants under this same scheme - up to HK$2 million per project - are at least twice as hefty as existing project grants offered by the ADC.