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Duncan Pescod, CEO, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, attends a press conference on termination Hsin Chong Construction Group over M+ museum. 17AUG18 SCMP/ Winson Wong

Let’s get next West Kowloon arts hub chief right for art’s sake

  • Loss of another CEO at troubled West Kowloon culture hub has come as a shock, but the vision must be fulfilled through the appointment of a new bold leader

The loss of yet another chief executive has ended the longest period of stability at the top of the authority developing the troubled West Kowloon arts hub since it was established 12 years ago.

The departure of Duncan Pescod after five years in the position, apparently forced by the government without reasons being given, shocked board members of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and senior executives. The authority renewed his contract only two years ago and just last July he told chairman Henry Tang Ying-yen he intended to renew it next year.

What makes it more surprising is that as a former senior civil servant who knows his way round government, Pescod was put in the job to halt the demoralising turnover of arts administrators appointed from outside who did not last in the politically sensitive job.

Sources say the government was ultimately disappointed in Pescod’s performance. He was personally popular but dissatisfaction apparently came from higher up. He paid the price for controversies including a setback in launching the tender of a major commercial component of the hub, the firing of a cash-strapped contractor for the M+ museum and other issues.

Outgoing West Kowloon arts hub chief ‘in the dark’ over early exit

The vision of a world-class cultural centre for Hong Kong has been fraught with such problems, ever since an initial concept that served the interests of developers at the expense of the arts was shot down by public opinion.

The authority is looking outside again for someone to bring the vision to fruition with a global recruitment exercise. Meanwhile it is asking the government to appoint an interim head on secondment from its own ranks. Hopefully it will not remain an in-house government project for too long.

With the arts hub project estimated to be running more than three times over its initial government grant of HK$21.6 billion amid political uncertainty and the pandemic, it is not going to be any easier to attract the right person. But the vision remains saleable. The West Kowloon arts hub is not just an addition to such attractions around the world.

What sets it apart from the rest is that it will serve as a cultural meeting point between East and West, in keeping with Hong Kong’s unique history. Positioning and direction is important, from the appointment of a new chief to fulfilment of the vision.

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