‘A bridge between two cultures’: French May Arts Festival returns to Hong Kong for 30th year
- The French May, a celebration of French arts and culture, has come a long way since 1993, and evolved further when Covid-19 stopped performers flying in
- While borders are open again, the collaborations with local creators and performers that began amid the pandemic will continue this year
The French May Arts Festival has much to celebrate this year. Not only is it returning to Hong Kong stronger and bigger – more than 100 programmes will run between April and June – the 2023 edition also marks its 30th anniversary.
The largest event of its kind in Hong Kong devoted predominantly to one culture, the French May has undergone several changes since it began.
When it launched in 1993 as Le French May, the French consulate in Hong Kong saw an opportunity to enrich the city’s cultural scene. Hong Kong’s arts and cultural landscape was very different then – there was no Art Basel Hong Kong art fair, M+ museum of visual culture or Tai Kwun, the heritage arts centre formed from the former Central Police Station and Victoria Gaol.
As Le French May grew in scale, the Association Culturelle France – Hong Kong, a non-profit, took over from the consulate as the organiser, and the festival has been funded by sponsorship and donors since.
Xavier Mahé became the general manager of French May in September 2019, months before the Covid-19 pandemic hit Hong Kong.