The Hong Kong Arts Festival 2012 reaches a milestone: it marks four decades in the business with an edition that will see some 160 paid performances and 140 free events at 53 venues between January 28 and March 8.
But being this city's biggest and oldest international arts festival also has its burden, especially since it still relies heavily on box office income while trying to be artistically diverse and innovative.
The budget for this year's festival is around HK$110 million: the government and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust are guaranteeing HK$50 million, with the balance expected to be achieved through sponsorship and ticket sales.
Although a top-price ticket to hear the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (February 13-14) will set you back HK$1,680, there is a raft of 140 free-admission performances, rehearsals and workshops to be found under the Young Friends Scheme and in the majority of the Festival Plus events. These include: a masterclass by acclaimed dramatic soprano Karita Mattila (February 17); a talk by the Hamburg Ballet's artistic director John Neumeier (January 31); or quizzing performers from Japan's The Geisha of Gion (February 18).
The festival is also quick to point out that it is not just about presenting bouquets to household names, as exemplified by the 10 programmes involving a dozen world premieres by emerging artists. These include new works commissioned from Asian composers by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra for its Music About China VI concert on March 6.
Hong Kong theatre veteran Poon Wai-sum's Show Flat (February 16-28) is both a festival commission and a timely take on the local property market. On the dance scene, festival sponsorship has secured a new work from Taiwanese choreographer Chou Shu-yi: About Living receives its first performances alongside works by Japanese hip hop star Kentaro!! and the multi-talented Indonesian artist, Eko Supriyanto, as part of the Asia Pacific Dance Platform on March 2 and 3.