Performing arts centre planned for artists' site

Council to put To Kwa Wan cultural village to 'best use'

An artists' village in To Kwa Wan may be turned into a centre for performing arts under a proposal from the Arts Development Council.

Council chairman Ma Fung-kwok said preliminary discussions had started with the government and relevant cultural bodies on the future of the Cattle Depot Artists' Village.

The historic building and a former abattoir and cattle quarantine station are owned by the Government Property Agency and rented to 20 or so theatre, music and visual arts groups.

'To be honest, the site can be better managed and artists are usually not very good managers,' Mr Ma said. 'Some artists live there, some plant flowers at the site, some use it as their storeroom and some do not even pay rent.

'This site is spacious and very suitable for the performing arts. We have all complained about the lack of venues and working space for local arts groups. So we should make the best use [of any space] when a place is available.'

The proposal follows the announcement last week of plans to convert a nine-storey government factory building in Shek Kip Mei into a centre for visual arts. The HK$70 million Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre, to be opened late next year, will offer 100 studios to artists and arts groups for rents of HK$3 to HK$8 a square foot.