FROM UNPRECEDENTED events come unprecedented reactions, and a sweeping sense of atypical fraternity has followed in the wake of Sars. Disaster has once again had a uniquely unifying effect. Although that says little for our sense of common purpose and public spirit before the outbreak, the medical, business, media and arts spheres have announced their responses to the devastation in an effort to put a smile back on the face of this city. The arts world in particular has joined hands to help victims of the outbreak, with a series of collaborations aimed at raising money as well as morale. Hong Kong Arts Centre, Goethe-Institut Hong Kong, Para/Site Art Space, and Art in Hospital have united to present an exhibition aimed at capturing this new zeitgeist - literally. A Time Like This ... invites the public to submit works (written or drawn) that convey their feelings during this period. They refer to it as 'the SARS attack' - illustrating just how defensive people are feeling. Equally significant is the fact that six of the main beneficiaries of the Arts Development Council are to share the stage on Friday night in a fund-raiser for local Sars orphans. 'This is the first collaboration between the six major arts groups in Hong Kong,' says Yip Wing-sie, music director of Hong Kong Sinfonietta, which will be joined by Hong Kong Ballet, Chung Ying Theatre Company, City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC), Theatre Ensemble and Zuni Icosahedron to present Arts Relief for Sars, a one-off charity extravaganza for the newly established We Care Education Fund. But a sense of anxiety prevail. Organisers claim the government's refusal to grant them the venue for free was due to its inability to grasp the significance of the event. 'We said 'this is a special occasion, can you not waive the cost this one time?'' explains Helen Ng of Hong Kong Ballet. 'We think this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but it insists there are rules and regulations and so it can't do something extraordinary.' The government argues that if it makes exceptions for one group, it has to make exceptions for them all. 'Art belongs to the community and if there's anything we can do to help others, we should,' says Yip. 'When things like this cause the community to gather around, pop stars are usually the first to [be] seen to be making a contribution. They reach out a lot easier than, say, a classical musician. We hope this will show a more approachable face of classical and contemporary arts.' The canto-pop world has been quick to react, with a swiftly organised concert, 1:99, featuring heavyweights such as Jacky Cheung Hok-yau, Andy Lau Tak-wah, Aaron Kwok Fu-shing, Hacken Lee, Nicholas Tse Ting-fung, Gigi Leung Wing-kei, and Joey Yung Cho-yee, to be staged on May 24 at Hong Kong Stadium. Proceeds will also be donated to the We Care fund. For Yip and her team, the past couple of weeks have been a blur of frenzied organisation. The idea for Arts Relief was proposed barely three weeks ago. 'It was only then we first appreciated the plight of the Sars orphans, and we wanted to help ensure that their future education would not be affected.' Yip adds that the concert aims to raise about $400,000. The rush in getting things together can be attributed to the fact that it was a case of now or never: the six groups were taking a Sars-imposed break and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) had an empty venue. 'It's just as well I told my dancers to keep in shape during their holidays,' says Stephen Jeffries, Hong Kong Ballet's artistic director. 'They only found out about it two weeks ago.' The troupe is set to perform Dreams Of Tenderness And Solitude, choreographed by Boston-born David Allan. With its exploration of human emotions accompanied by a Karl Jenkins score, the Ballet Extravaganza performance will be previewed at the Arts Relief show. Elsewhere, comedian Jim Chim, Associate artistic director of Theatre Ensemble, will present an offbeat Sars satire. Symbolism, meanwhile, is at the core of Xing Liang's solo piece for CCDC's, I Want To Fly. 'I choreographed it in 1998, based on a dream I'd had,' he explained recently. 'In the dream I give up my existing self. Something new emerges, a new sense of self. It's a sense of freedom from my old body. The imagery is powerful, and a metaphor for the current situation - we must soon leave this behind.' Despite such lofty aspirations, money squabbles have soured the run-up to the event.'It is a shame the government can't make an effort,' says Jeffries. 'Especially as we are. Everyone has to pull together if we're going to make fund-raisers like this work.' According to the government, plenty has been done without setting a precedent for times like these. 'All worthy causes deserve whole-hearted support, says June Tong, LCSD principal marketing co-ordinator. 'But it will make it difficult if we offer free rental to one group and not the others.' Would the government consider this an exceptional situation, though? 'We do receive requests from non-profit organisations for fund-raising activities. All these deserve support, but we have to strike a balance between our pledge of support and the need to maintain subsidy for venue operation at a reasonable level. I do not think the six companies would object to each contributing $4,000 [the sum asked of them].' With the LCSD providing an annual $14 million subsidy to the six groups on top of about $6.6 million in venue rental subsidies, this could be viewed as a case of the mouth biting the hand that feeds it. The organisers nevertheless regard it as a missed opportunity. 'Of course we're grateful for the subsidy,' explains Ho Yee Lee, Hong Kong Sinfonietta general manager. 'But if they think it's such a small amount, surely they can waive it, just this once? We appreciate the help they've given us, we're disappointed that they couldn't go further this time.' Arts Relief, Fri, 8pm. City Hall. $1,000, $500, $200, $100 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2326 8597 A Time Like This ... May 20-June 2. Hong Kong Arts Centre, Goethe-Institut and Para/Site Art Space. Inquiries: 2582 0214