We can be heroes
Next year’s Hong Kong Arts Festival is a tribute to the people who make it happen on and offstage, writes Robin Lynam
HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL 2014 is all about heroes – and that’s official. “In the characters on stage, in heroic journeys in music, played and sung, and in the creative giants who are heroes of the dance,” says Tisa Ho, executive director of the arts and cultural jamboree. “The ‘hero’ motif is also a tribute to all artists, audiences, partners, stakeholders and those behind the scenes who make the festival possible,” Ho adds.
Some heroic organisation is involved.
Over 33 days, from February 18 to March 22, 1,662 artists and production staff will stage 138 performances in 15 venues – as well as 97 Festival Plus events, such as workshops – with a budget of about HK$102.5 million. Twenty performances will be new works or world premieres, and a further 16 will be Asian premieres.
“The focus the Hong Kong Arts Festival has taken over the years is to collaborate with local artists, and local composers and producers. This way we hope to bring a balance of programmes that will suit the Hong Kong audience and international audience,” says Ronald Arculli, chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society.
Well, up to a point. Only 35 of those 138 performances are local, and the number of tickets for sale for the international programmes is 102,713, versus 13,317 for local programmes. But that is fair enough.
It’s an excellent thing that local artists have more opportunities for festival exposure – but they are here for the rest of the year.