Letters | How M+ museum can boost Hong Kong’s reputation as Asia’s World City

To be a truly great city, Hong Kong needs to go beyond being a business powerhouse or tourist hub and invest in culture

Hong Kong is the world’s best example of global exchange. M+ reflects this identity in every way, from its collections and exhibitions to its staff

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The M+ museum of visual culture in the West Kowloon Cultural District on March 17. Photo: Agence France-Presse

Published: 7:30am, 22 Apr 2021Updated: 7:30am, 22 Apr 2021

Fifteen years ago, I had the honour of chairing the museum advisory group, under the consultative committee on the core arts and cultural facilities of the West Kowloon Cultural District. The task was to propose what type of museum the district should have. We proposed a bold concept “M+” to create more than a conventional museum that would be consistent with Hong Kong’s position as one of the world’s great cities.

A truly great city needs to be more than a business powerhouse or a major tourist hub. Investments in culture produce both qualitative benefits and economic returns. M+ was our vision of what a 21st century cultural institution in Asia could be, offering a Hong Kong perspective on global visual culture and creating a unique, world-class platform in Asia to foster exchange between Hong Kong and the world.

Hong Kong is the world’s best example of global exchange. M+ reflects this identity in every way, from its collections and exhibitions to its staff. M+ followed the highest international standards for museum operations and governance. The M+ acquisitions committee and the M+ Collections Trust were established in 2016 and 2017, respectively, to govern matters relating to acquisitions and protection of legal interests of the M+ collection. The rigorous approach creates the needed environment conducive to the long-term development of M+.

The museum has been supporting local talent, artists and designers in multiple ways. There are currently close to 8,000 items in the M+ collections, of which nearly one-fourth of the works are by Hong Kong artists, designers and makers. M+ is now on the cusp of becoming a reality.

May Fung Mei-wah and her 1989 work, She Said Why Me, part of an exhibition of five women artists at an exhibition at the M+ Pavilion in June 2019. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Later this year, we will have the pleasure of welcoming the public to experience its audacious and contextual architecture and exhibitions. Many are important collections that have not been exhibited by other international institutions previously.

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.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Letters | How M+ museum can boost Hong Kong’s reputation as Asia’s World City

Letters | How M+ museum can boost Hong Kong’s reputation as Asia’s World City