Hong Kong's youth say it from the art

Around 800,000 pupils from 500 schools are busily preparing for the tenth celebration of the Hong Kong Youth Arts Festival.

Some are learning lines for the showcase musical Bugsy Malone which opens at the end of next month, others are beavering away at the many visual arts projects due to appear around the city and the rest are taking part in school-based activities.

The non-profit festival kicks off this week with a mixed media exhibition of Mythical Totems at The Square, Citygate, part of a three-phase travelling show called Myths that also includes Angels at Park Court, Pacific Place, and Fabulous Beasts at the Atrium, Cityplaza.

This is followed by a production of Summertime by the Dancing High Lights Company at Hong Kong Arts Centre and then a host of other events at arts centres, shopping malls, MTR stations, parks and schools before culminating in the 1920s New York gangster spoof Bugsy Malone at Shouson Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Centre, between November 25 and 30.

Other performing arts events include music, theatre and dance '4 all' projects, a specially adapted version of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing and shows by the David S. Davies Foundation Community Choir.

Festival founder and Bugsy director Lindsay McAllister said Bugsy and the other projects were all about 'inclusion, creativity and self-esteem'.

'When I was at school I was once told that I danced like a baby elephant. I never want any kid to be put through that humiliation again,' she said.

'We come up with projects that are sexy and appealing to youngsters and make them want to be involved.

'Take Bugsy. All kids who come to the audition are offered something, whether they get a part in the show or not. We don't turn anyone away.'

Ms McAllister said the festival, which has three major sponsors - The Kadoorie Foundation, Standard Chartered Community Foundation and Hong Kong Jockey Club - had not suffered as a result of the economic downturn.

'We need to raise eight to 10 million dollars a year and we had no problem, once the begging bowl was out,' she said.

Festival visual arts manager Wendy Tsang said she was overseeing five major projects this year - Myths; Pulling Faces, a mixed media exhibition put together by primary and secondary pupils; Arts in the Plaza, an outdoor event at Stanley Plaza; a photographic project called Ascending to New Heights at the Fringe Club; and Hunting Heaven for Earth, an environmental art exhibition.

A full programme of events is available at: www.hkyaf.com